Study 1
Study type:
Systematic review
Purpose:
To explore the anti-neuroinflammatory activities of bioactive compounds from medicinal mushrooms, including reishi in various laboratory studies and animal studies.
Results:
Various studies have shown that reishi mushroom extracts have anti-neuroinflammatory properties, meaning that they have properties that counteract inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Neuroinflammation plays a major role in Alzheimer's Disease, as well as Parkinson's Disease, brain ischemia, epilepsy and depression.
A study revealed that reishi extracts reduced levels of IL-8 and TNF-α, which are small proteins called cytokines that play a role in the immune response and inflammation within the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a region of the brain that is important for learning and memory, and is often affected in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In the context of neuroinflammation, IL-8 and TNF-α can contribute to damage and degeneration of brain cells. Reduced levels of these cytokines suggests that the reishi extract has anti-inflammatory effects in the brain.
Another study found that reishi spore powder and lion’s mane extract had protective effects on neurons and the broader nervous system, (“neuroprotective” effects) and reduced neuronal apoptosis (reduced brain cell death) in animal models of epilepsy.
Year:
2020
Link: