Abstract
Hericium erinaceum is an edible mushroom, and its fruiting bodies have been used for the treatment of dyspepsia, gastric ulcer and enervation as a Chinese medicine in China. Recently, Hericium erinaceum has been reported to show antitumor action and antidiabetic activity. Also, hericenones and erinacines, which were isolated from Hericium erinaceum, have potent stimulating activity for nerve-growth factor (NGF) synthesis. Moreover, Hericium erinaceum has antioxidant properties and reduce platelet aggregation. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of Hericium erinaceum on the ischemic brain damage in a middle cerebral artery occulusion (MCAO) model in mice. Hericium erinaceum (300 mg/kg, continuous 14-day p.o.) significantly decreased the size of the cerebral infarcts 1 day after the occulusion (4 h). These results suggest that Hericium erinaceum provides neuroprotection against focal cerebral ischemia and may be clinically useful for preventing cerebral infarction.
