Ingredient · Functional Mushroom

Lion's Mane

Hericium erinaceus

Family Hericiaceae · Compound class: meroterpenoids (hericenones), cyathane diterpenoids (erinacines), beta-glucan polysaccharides.

The neurotrophin mushroom — anchor of the NEUROGENESIS thesis.

MYKO Spec

7:1 Fruiting Body

Used In

NEUROGENESIS · ADAPT

Evidence

Tier 1–2 Cognitive

A research-backed mushroom traditionally used for clarity and focus — MYKO selects a 7:1 fruiting-body extract to support nerve growth factor and steady cognitive endurance over time.

What It Is

An ancient mushroom with modern neuroscience attention.

Lion's Mane is a cascading, white-tendrilled medicinal mushroom that has been used in East Asian wellness traditions for centuries and is one of the most actively studied functional fungi in modern neuroscience research.

MYKO uses a 7:1 fruiting-body extract — meaning seven units of dried, whole fruiting body are concentrated into one unit of finished extract. Each NEUROGENESIS capsule delivers 200mg of extract, equivalent to approximately 1,400mg of raw mushroom.

Why MYKO Uses It

The cornerstone of the NEUROGENESIS thesis.

MYKO uses Lion's Mane as the cornerstone of NEUROGENESIS to support the body's own production of nerve growth factors. It is included alongside the Active Botanical Compound to engage two complementary neurotrophin pathways within a single formula — NGF (Lion's Mane) and BDNF-adjacent signaling (Active Botanical) — so the formula targets neuroplasticity, focus, and cognitive endurance from two angles at once.

Found In MYKO Formulas

Where Lion's Mane appears in the line.

NEUROGENESIS

The Brain

200mg · 7:1 fruiting-body extract
≈ 1,400mg raw equivalent

View Formula →

ADAPT

Daily Foundation

Included via 5 Mushroom Complex
at ~7:1 ratio

View Formula →

Effects & Experience

A slow-build, foundation-style experience.

Lion's Mane is most often described by customers as a slow-build experience: clearer thinking, smoother working memory, and a steadier baseline that develops over weeks rather than minutes. Acute effects exist in research, but the most reliable subjective shifts arrive at 4–8 weeks of consistent use.

MYKO frames Lion's Mane as a foundation for cognitive endurance — not a stimulant. Pair it with Cordyceps for energy or with the Active Botanical for plasticity-focused days.

Key Bioactive Compounds

The chemistry MYKO selects for.

Hericenones (C–H)

Meroterpenoid compounds concentrated in the fruiting body. Stimulate NGF synthesis in glial cells. Concentrations vary widely (<20 to ~500 µg/g dry weight) — a key reason MYKO sources fruiting-body extract rather than mycelium-on-grain.
Erinacines (A, C and others)

Cyathane diterpenoids found in mycelium. Erinacine A crosses the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion; Erinacine C is associated with BDNF expression via the Nrf2 pathway.
NDPIH / Hericene A

Recently characterized compounds linked to axon outgrowth and neurite branching through ERK1/2 signaling that is partly independent of TrkB/BDNF.
Beta-glucan polysaccharides

Immune-modulatory polysaccharides. MYKO targets ≥25% beta-glucan content (≥30% premium), measured via Megazyme K-YBGL enzymatic assay.

Mechanisms in the Body

Three pathways, three evidence levels.

Mechanism strength is presented separately so you can see what is human-supported, what is preclinical, and what is traditional theory.

Human-Supported

Cognitive support: 16 weeks of 3g/day Lion's Mane improved cognitive scores in 50–80 year old adults with mild cognitive impairment in a double-blind clinical trial (Mori et al., 2009).
Mood and sleep: An 8-week supplementation trial reported significant increases in serum pro-BDNF alongside improvements in self-reported depression, anxiety, and sleep quality (Vigna et al., 2019).
Acute cognition: Single-dose human studies have reported acute cognitive effects within a 60–90 minute window (Docherty 2023; Surendran 2025).

Preclinical / Mechanistic

Hericenones and erinacines stimulate endogenous NGF synthesis in astrocytes, activating TrkA receptor cascades (Ras/Raf/MAPK, PLCγ, PI3K/Akt) associated with neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth.
Erinacine A-enriched supplementation reduced amyloid-β plaque deposition and increased neurogenesis in a transgenic Alzheimer's mouse model (Tsai-Teng et al., 2016).
Oral Lion's Mane increased NGF gene expression approximately fivefold in mouse hippocampus — notably localized to the brain's memory and learning region (Mori et al., 2008).
Increases gut microbiota diversity and short-chain fatty acid producers, with proposed downstream effects on microglial and astrocyte signaling (gut-brain axis literature, 2023–2025).

Traditional / Theoretical

Used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for digestion, vitality, and "calming the spirit." Often associated with monastic concentration and mental clarity practices.

Evidence Grade

How MYKO grades this ingredient.

Overall Grade

Tier 1–2 for cognitive support; Tier 3 for direct neurogenesis claims in healthy adults.

Strongest Areas

Cognitive support in mild cognitive impairment (Tier 1); BDNF / mood / sleep markers in mid-length supplementation trials (Tier 2); preclinical NGF stimulation (Tier 3).

Weaker / Emerging

"Promotes neurogenesis" in healthy adults (Tier 3, mostly preclinical); acute single-dose cognitive effects (Tier 2, small studies); standalone treatment of anxiety, depression, or ADHD (not supported).

Claim Caution

Moderate

Reason

Lion's Mane has unusually strong human and preclinical literature for a functional mushroom, but the strongest human RCT was in older adults with MCI. Customer-facing claims should hold the line at "supports cognition / nervous-system function" and frame neurogenesis-language in mechanistic, preclinical terms.

Science Hub

For the customer who wants the full picture.

Read the Deeper Technical Version

Lion's Mane delivers two distinct chemistries: hericenones (meroterpenoids concentrated in the fruiting body) and erinacines (cyathane diterpenoids concentrated in mycelium). Both stimulate endogenous NGF synthesis in astrocytes; erinacine A passes the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion, while several hericenones act peripherally and through gut-brain signaling. Activated TrkA receptors drive Ras/Raf/MAPK, PLCγ, and PI3K/Akt cascades associated with neuronal survival, differentiation, and neurite outgrowth.

Independent of NGF, the recently characterized NDPIH and Hericene A compounds promote axon outgrowth and neurite branching via ERK1/2 signaling that is partly TrkB-independent (Martínez-Marmol et al., 2023). Erinacine C has been associated with elevated BDNF expression via the Nrf2 transcription factor (Lee et al., 2024).

Human evidence is led by Mori 2009 (16-week MCI cognitive trial at 3g/day) and Vigna 2019 (8-week elevated serum pro-BDNF with mood and sleep improvements). Effects appear to wash out within ~4 weeks of cessation, supporting MYKO's recommendation for either continuous use or structured cycling.

MYKO specification: 7:1 dual-extracted fruiting-body extract, beta-glucan ≥25% (Megazyme K-YBGL), 200mg per NEUROGENESIS capsule (≈ 1,400mg raw equivalent).

References cited on this page (8)

Citations referenced inline in the mechanisms and technical sections above. For the full evidence base across all MYKO ingredients, see the Library. Sources are listed by author and year only — full citation details available on request.

Mori et al., 2009
Vigna et al., 2019
Docherty 2023
Surendran 2025
Tsai-Teng et al., 2016
Mori et al., 2008
Martínez-Marmol et al., 2023
Lee et al., 2024

Safety Notes

What to know before using.

Generally well tolerated. Most commonly reported side effects are mild GI discomfort or skin itching at high doses.
Contraindicated for people with known mushroom allergies.
Use caution in pregnancy and breastfeeding — not enough human safety data.
Lion's Mane is a weak MAOI. Caution when combined with serotonergic medications, MAOI medications, or any Active Botanical formula at higher cumulative doses.
Sourcing matters: insist on dual-extracted (hot water + ethanol) fruiting-body material, not mycelium-on-grain. Confirm beta-glucan % on the COA.

Research Notes

What's supported, what's emerging.

What is reasonably supported: cognitive support in mild cognitive impairment; modest mood/anxiety/sleep improvements over 8+ weeks; mechanistic evidence for NGF and BDNF involvement.

What is still emerging: acute cognitive effects in healthy adults; effects on Alzheimer's progression (preclinical evidence is promising; human evidence is limited); the role of NDPIH/Hericene A independent of BDNF.

What should not be claimed strongly: "regenerates damaged nerves," "reverses cognitive decline," "treats dementia," "increases NGF by X%" without a direct human source.

Where more human research is needed: dosing optimization of fruiting body vs. mycelium; durability of cognitive gains beyond 16 weeks; effects in younger, healthy populations.

Where It Leads

Meet the formulas built on it.

Every MYKO ingredient earns its place in a formula. See the systems it powers — or find the one built for you.

Shop The Formulas Find Your Formula

Explore Ingredients

All Twelve in MYKO's Library.

Lion's Mane Cordyceps Shilajit Reishi Chaga Turkey Tail Active Botanical P. Ochra 5 Mushroom Complex Niacin · B3 Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium L-Threonate

These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. MYKO products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before beginning any new supplement, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a medical condition.