Investigation of practices and technologies for lion's mane production, an emerging medicinal mushroom for Canada

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Lion's mane (Hericum erinaceus) is an edible mushroom that is widely used in for traditional medicine in China. In North America, there has been relatively little focus on lion's mane. The therapeutic effects of lion's mane mushroom extracts have been tested in animal models and human cell lines, and positive benefits include stimulation of nerve growth factor production. The fruiting bodies and mycelia of lion's mane and related Hericium species respectively contain hericenones and erinacines, both of which are postulated as nerve growth factor biosynthesis stimulants. To feasibly produce lion's mane and other medicinal basidiomycetes more information is needed on how their cultivation is impacted by production-related factors. There is widespread knowledge that the type of culture media affects the growth dynamics of lion's mane mycelia, but not much is known about the impact on erinacine profiles. Our research project is focused on developing optimal practices and/or technologies for the cultivation of lion's mane mycelia as well as those of other Hericium species. We will develop a cultivation strategy that incorporates the best culture media type and temporary immersion regimen for cultivation of high erinacine mycelia in liquid culture. In addition, we will explore the impact of exposing mycelia to light emitting diodes on whether fruiting and hericenone content of Hericium mushrooms are improved relative to cultivation under darkness. We will verify the nutraceutical potential of extracts prepared from mycelia and fruiting bodies of various Hericium species cultivated under optimal production practices by testing their impact on neuronal model systems. The proposed research will provide unique training opportunities for 2 MSc students in multidisciplinary research, including mycology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, electrophysiology, pharmacology and pharmacogenetic skills that are in high demand within the scientific, nutraceutical and mushroom science sectors. The research will provide ready to use practices/technologies for the adoption of lion's mane mushroom cultivation by Canadian mushroom growers as well as the development of products for the burgeoning nutraceutical sector in Canada.