Neuroprotective Metabolites of <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> Promote Neuro-Healthy Aging

• Main Authors: Elisa Roda, Erica Cecilia Priori, Daniela Ratto, Fabrizio De Luca, Carmine Di Iorio, Paola Angelone, Carlo Alessandro Locatelli, Anthea Desiderio, Lorenzo Goppa, Elena Savino, Maria Grazia Bottone, Paola Rossi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: healthy aging; frailty; cerebellum; <i>inflammaging</i>; oxidative stress; ergothioneine
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/12/6379
• ISSN: 1661-6596; 1422-0067

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome associated with both locomotor and cognitive decline, typically linked to chronic systemic inflammation, i.e., <i>inflammaging</i>. In the current study, we investigated the effect of a two-month oral supplementation with standardized extracts of <i>H. erinaceus</i>, containing a known amount of Erinacine A, Hericenone C, Hericenone D, and L-ergothioneine, on locomotor frailty and cerebellum of aged mice. Locomotor performances were monitored comparing healthy aging and frail mice. Cerebellar volume and cytoarchitecture, together with inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, were assessed focusing on senescent frail animals. <i>H. erinaceus</i> partially recovered the aged-related decline of locomotor performances. Histopathological analyses paralleled by immunocytochemical evaluation of specific molecules strengthened the neuroprotective role of <i>H. erinaceus</i> able to ameliorate cerebellar alterations, i.e., milder volume reduction, slighter molecular layer thickness decrease and minor percentage of shrunken Purkinje neurons, also diminishing inflammation and oxidative stress in frail mice while increasing a key longevity regulator and a neuroprotective molecule. Thus, our present findings demonstrated the efficacy of a non-pharmacological approach, based on the dietary supplementation using <i>H. erinaceus</i> extract, which represent a promising adjuvant therapy to be associated with conventional geriatric treatments.