Australian researchers have just identified new compounds from the mushroom called “Lion’s Mane”, which promote connections between neurons and the formation of memory. Laboratory tests should be followed by clinical studies for validation.
Active compounds of a mushroom would have the ability to stimulate nerve growth and improve our memory. Researchers from the University of Queensland (Australia) made this surprising discovery thanks to laboratory tests on the fungus Hericium erinaceus, also called “Lion’s Mane”. It is indeed made up of more or less long white filaments which fall “in cascade”.
A mushroom with multiple benefits
If this edible mushroom is rarely found in the wild, it is widely cultivated in Asia. It has been used for millennia on this continent to treat disease and preserve health, according to traditional Chinese medicine. Its properties have been studied in scientific research for a decade, revealing beneficial effects on both the nervous and gastrointestinal systems. It would also be an antioxidant with anti-cancer properties.
Scientists describe H. erinaceus as a nootropic mushroom – capable of boosting the brain – promising. Moreover, it is already known to improve the regeneration of peripheral nerves by targeting the neurotrophic activity of nerve growth factor (NGF). For the new study published in the Journal of NeurochemistryAustralian researchers have purified and identified novel biologically active compounds from H. erinaceus. « Our idea was to identify bioactive compounds from natural sources that might reach the brain and regulate neuron growth, which would improve memory formation. », said Dr. Ramon Martinez-Marmol, co-author of the study.
“Active compounds promoted neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons”
This was shown by preclinical laboratory tests. By measuring the neurotrophic effects of these molecules on cultured brain cells, the researchers found that the active compounds promoted neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons! ” With super-resolution microscopy, we found that the mushroom extract and its active components greatly increase the size of growth cones, which are especially important for brain cells to sense their surroundings and make new connections with other organisms. other neurons in the brain “, reported Professor Frederic Meunier, from Queensland Brain Institute. The compounds thus identified are part of the family of neurotrophins, promoting neuronal survival.
What is the link with memory?
The results of the present study suggest a link between bioactive compounds in the mushroom and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. However, previous research shows that BDNF is highly expressed in the adult central nervous system. It is critical to the function of neurons located in areas of the brain involved in memory acquisition, such as the hippocampus and cortex.
Previously, dysfunction of the BDNF pathway has been associated with several brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and Huntington’s disease. It is therefore not surprising that neurotrophins and their receptors have been identified as targets for the therapeutic treatment of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. The “Lion’s Mane” might be used in this sense.
