Metabolites of Culinary-medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus Showed Anti-neuroinflammatory Activity in BV2 Cells and Anti-H2O2-induced Oxidative Stress Activity in SH-SY5Y Cells

Hericium erinaceus is a versatile mushroom with potential therapeutic benefits. A variety of bioactive compounds have been found in this mushroom that have anti-ulcer, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and blood sugar and lipid regulating effects. The aim is to isolate and characterize compounds from the rice medium of H. erinaceus and evaluate their potential therapeutic effects on oxidative stress-associated diseases. Fifteen compounds were isolated and characterized using NMR spectra and ESI-MS. The effects of compounds 3 and 7 on LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation in BV2 cells and H2O2- induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells were investigated. The regulation of nitric oxide production and apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2 and Bax were also examined. Compounds 3 and 7 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO generation in microglial cells and significant resistance to H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated the interaction of compounds 3 and 7 with iNOS and Bax, respectively. Western blot analysis revealed that 7 inhibited NO production and regulated the expression of Bax and Bcl-2, suggesting a protective effect against H2O2-induced apoptosis. Compounds 3 and 7 isolated from H. erinaceus are potential therapeutic candidates for oxidative stress-associated diseases, possibly through their regulation of nitric oxide production and apoptosis-related proteins. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential.