Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine for centuries for its many health benefits. The mushroom grows on trees and logs and resembles a lion's mane. The mushroom can be eaten raw, dried or cooked, but it is usually sold as a supplement in powder, liquid or capsules.
Lion's mane contains chemicals which are said to help with nerve regeneration and has the ability to get from the bloodstream into the brain. Research also suggests the mushroom may assist with diabetic nerve pain and useful for management of diabetes. Studies suggest lion's mane can assist with protection of stomach ulcers, reduces anxiety and beneficial for reducing inflammation.
Most of the research conducted about the benefits of lion's mane have been studies in rats. The only research that was done involving chickens is targeted towards benefits to humans for their use as commodities.
Poultry Specific Studies
| Type | Plant Part | Dosage | Specific use | Results | Ref |
|---|
| Chickens | polysaccharides | | fatty liver disease | Lion's mane could ameliorate the hepatic damage and metabolic disorders of NAFLD through regulating the “gut-liver” axis. | L Wu et al., 2024 |
| Chickens | polysaccharides | 1.6% diet | heat stress | Adding lion's mane to the diet improved the growth performance of broilers under heat stress, improved the immune and antioxidant functions, and affected the substance metabolism in serum through metabolic pathways such as pyrimidine metabolism, amino acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism, so as to alleviate the damage of heat stress on broilers. | Y Zheng et al., 2023 |
| Ducks | polysaccharides | 0.2 g/L HEP | immunity | Treatment with lion's mane can effectively repair MDRV-caused injures of small intestinal mucosal immune barrier, and improve mucosal immune function in sick Muscovy ducklings, which will provide valuable help for further application of HEP in prevention and treatment of MDRV infection. | Y Wu et al., 2018 |
References
- Shang HM1, Song H, Xing YL, Niu SL, Ding GD, Jiang YY, Liang F.. "Effects of dietary fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. on growth performance, digestibility, and intestinal microbiol" Journal of Science Food Agriculture (2015)
- Shang, Hong Mei, et al. "Effects of dietary polysaccharides from the submerged fermentation concentrate of Hericium caputmedusae Pers. on fat deposition in broilers" Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2015)
- Cong, H. L. G. L. L., & Ying, W. X. Z. "Effects of Dietary Green Bamboo Extract on Lipid Metabolism of Broilers" Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition (2013)
- YAO, X., SONG, H., SHEN, S. J., SHANG, H., & WANG, L. N.. "Effects of Polysaccharides from Hericium caput-medusae Fermentation Extractum on Antioxidant Activity in Broilers." Journal of Fungal Research (2012)
