(1349-B) Natural Product Compound Fractionization of the Lion’s Mane Mushroom and HTS Analysis of its Effects on Multiple Models of Neuronal Disorders
Monday, February 5, 2024
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
Location: Exhibit Halls AB
Abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases have been taking the world by storm as modern medicine aids in increasing lifespans globally. Hericium Erinaceus, also known as Lion’s Mane Mushroom, is consumed as both food and medicine worldwide. H. Erinaceus resides in the tooth fungus group and is native to Asia, Europe and North America. Studies have shown that there are many benefits to consumption of H. Erinaceus ranging from relieving anxiety and depression all the way to the delay and protection against detrimental neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Lion’s Mane mushroom is believed to contain polysaccharides, erinacines, hericenones, steroids, alkaloids, and lactones. This project was done to test the many intriguing capabilities of H. Erinaceus and determine which isolated components of the mushroom contribute to the specific capabilities. First, the team created 4 crude ethanol natural product extracts and tested them on primary neonatal pup neurons as well as iPSC induced human neurons. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was done to determine the best solvent combination used to separate the main ingredients of the mushroom. From there CombiFlash Rf+ was done to accomplish the separation of mushroom components that were plated in 1536 well plates as a dose response format. Altogether, 60 fractions were identified as possible active formulations of H. Erinaceus and analyzed using LC-MS. The 60 fractions were used in assays to be analyzed via high content and luminescence analysis. The high content reader provided us with data on Valid Neuron Count per well, Total Neurites per well, Total Neurite Length per well, as well as Total Neurite Count per Neuron. The luminescence analysis provided us with expression data analogous to increased BDNF or heterologous gene expression patterns associated with autism.