A research team from the University of Bicocca in Milan, Italy, published a paper in the journal Nutrients, revealing the anti-aging and neuroprotective effects of Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus extracts. The study further confirmed the neuroprotective activity of Grifola frondosa extract in a Parkinson's disease model using Drosophila melanogaster. These findings suggest that Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus, as functional foods, could be promising for preventing aging and age-related diseases, especially in the management and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
Image from: Nutrients
Image from: Nutrients
To evaluate whether Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus extracts have anti-aging effects, the team administered various concentrations of these extracts to exponentially growing wild-type yeast cells. The experiments demonstrated that both extracts extended the lifespan of yeast cells in a dose-dependent manner (illustrated in graphs A and B). Cells treated with 0.2% extract had their average lifespan tripled, while those treated with 0.5% extract saw their lifespan extended fivefold, thus confirming their anti-aging effects.
Image from: Nutrients
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition affecting the central nervous system, primarily impacting motor functions. Early symptoms typically develop slowly, including tremors, stiffness, reduced motor skills, and gait abnormalities, with potential cognitive and behavioral issues. The study indicated that Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus could alleviate the misfolding and toxicity of alpha-synuclein, promoting lifespan extension by inhibiting the misfolding of alpha-synuclein, and further confirmed the neuroprotective activity of Grifola frondosa extract in a Parkinson's disease model in Drosophila melanogaster.
The study's data confirms the anti-aging and neuroprotective properties of Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus, laying a foundation for their potential therapeutic use in neurodegenerative diseases through nutritional analysis, efficacy evaluation, and mechanistic studies. As research progresses, these mushrooms hold promise as functional foods for combating aging and preventing neurodegenerative and other age-related diseases.
Source: Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4368; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204368