A REVIEW ON HERICIUM ERINACEUS: NATURE'S MEDICINAL RESERVOIR

ABSTRACT Mushrooms are rapidly becoming recognized as a promising source of novel proteins. Hericium erinaceus is one of the widely used edible mushrooms around the world, primarily in Asian countries. H. erinaceus is used in traditional medicines, and mushroom-based foods. Mushrooms are considered as nutritionally functional foods and source of physiologically beneficial medicines. Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion's Mane Mushroom or Hedgehog Mushroom, is an edible fungus, which has a long history of usage in traditional Chinese medicine. This mushroom is rich in some physiologically important components, especially β-glucan polysaccharides, which are responsible for anti-cancer, immunomodulating, hypolipidemic, anti-oxidant and neuroprotective activities of this mushroom. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) has also been reported to have anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, wound healing properties among other therapeutic potentials. These stunning properties along with the absence of toxicity render these biopolymers ideal compounds for developing novel functional foods or nutraceuticals with the increase in consumers’ consciousness and demand for healthy food. Large scale production and industrial application of some fungal proteins prove their biotechnological potential and establish higher fungi as a valuable, although relatively unexplored, source of unique proteins. This review article has overviewed the recent advances in the research and study on H. erinaceus and discussed the potential health beneficial activities of this mushroom, with the recognition of bioactive compounds responsible for these medicinal properties. Keywords: Hericium erinaceus, anti-cancer, Hericiaceae, Lion’s mane mushroom, anti-diabetic, Hericenones