Hericenone L, a new aromatic compound from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceums

Hericium erinaceus ethanol extract exhibits potent DNA-protective and antioxidant action: Evidence from in vitro and Drosophila melanogaster studies

Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.) is a highly valued edible fungus recognized for its diverse health benefits. This study investigated the in vitro DNA-protective effects and in vivo genotoxicity and antioxidant activity of an ethanol extract from the fruiting bodies of cultivated H. erinaceus (HEEE) using a Drosophila model. HEEE exhibited remarkable, concentration-dependent protection against DNA damage induced by hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals in vitro reaching optimal protection at 400 μg mL-1, without showing genotoxic effects in third instar Drosophila melanogaster larvae, at tested concentrations below 20 mg mL-1. HEEE displayed significant in vivo antioxidant activity under oxidative stress conditions at concentrations up to 2.5 mg mL-1. In the range of 1.25-10 mg mL-1, HEEE reduced malondialdehyde levels, while a concentration of 40 mg mL-1 exhibited a significant pro-oxidant effect. At 1.25 mg mL-1, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities increased by 23.1% and 10.6%, respectively. The concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg mL-1 significantly reduced superoxide dismutase activity, by 44.1%, 52.0%, and 66.4%, respectively. The concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg mL-1 induced an increase in glutathione (GSH) levels of 131.5%, 145.8%, and 228.7%, respectively. Quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of hericenes and hericenones and allowed to quantify, for the first time directly without prior separation steps, these active ingredients at 0.43% (w/w), expressed as the relative content of hericenone C. Phenolics hericenes and hericenones C-H likely contribute to the observed antioxidant and DNA-protective activities. These findings suggest that HEEE could be a valuable dietary supplement providing protection against oxidative DNA damage and supporting antioxidant defenses.

New benzaldehyde derivatives from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus with cytotoxic activity

Four new natural compounds named hericenone O (1), hericenone P (2), hericenone Q (3), and hericenone R (4), two of them were reported synthetically (3-4), together with eleven known compounds were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by using NMR analysis and mass spectrometry, as well as comparisons with the reported data in the literature. The bioactivity evaluation revealed that hericenone Q showed significant cytotoxic activity against Hep-G2 with IC50 values of 23.89 μM, and against HCT-116 with IC50 values of 65.64 μM.

Total Synthesis of Isohericerinol A and Its Analogues to Access Their Potential Neurotrophic Effects

The secondary metabolites from Hericium erinaceus are well-known to have neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. Isohericerinol A (1), isolated by our colleagues from its fruiting parts has a strong ability to increase the nerve growth factor secretion in C6 glioma cells. The current work describes the total synthesis of 1 and its regioisomer 5 in a few steps. We present two different approaches to 1 and a regiodivergent approach for both 1 and 5 by utilizing easily accessible feedstocks. Interestingly, the natural product 1, regioisomer 5, and their intermediates exhibited potent neurotrophic activity in in vitro experimental systems. Thus, these synthetic strategies provide access to a systematic structure-activity relationship study of natural product 1.

Development and validation of an HPLC-DAD-MS method for determination of four nucleoside compounds in the New Zealand native mushroom Hericium sp

To identify and quantify the content of nucleoside compounds in the New Zealand native edible mushroom Hericium sp., a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole detector mass method was developed and validated. Four nucleoside substitutes, namely cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and guanosine, were identified. Optimization was conducted to study the effect of extraction method type, solvent pH, and extraction time. The optimal conditions were obtained using ultrasonic treatment in water at pH 3.8 for 30 min. For chromatographic separation, a C₁₈ column was applied using 0.1% formic acid (pH 3.4) as the mobile phase with detection at 260 nm. The total concentration of the four nucleoside compounds was high, at 10.7 mg/g dry weight, indicating a potential benefit for human health. The excellent validation results based on selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness revealed the reliability of the newly developed analytical method, which could be applied routinely in research laboratories.

Two new isobenzofuranone derivatives from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus

Two new isobenzofuranone derivatives erinaceolactones G and H (1 and 2) were isolated from the ethanolic extract of fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. Their structures were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic evidences. Compound 2 was suggested to be racemic by specific rotation, which was resolved by chiral HPLC into enantiomers.