The Potential of the Lions Mane Mushroom as a Preventative Treatment Against Neurodegenerative Diseases
The Potential of the Lions Mane Mushroom as a Preventative Treatment Against Neurodegenerative Diseases
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In this project we collaborated with researchers from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to study the effects of the Lions Mane mushroom on induced neurodegeneration in zebrafish embryos.
In this project we collaborated with researchers from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to study the effects of the Lions Mane mushroom on induced neurodegeneration in zebrafish embryos.
Objectives
Objectives
Model neurodegenerative diseases in zebrafish embryos
Create an aqueous extract of the Lions Mane mushroom to use as treatment
Study the effects of the Lions Mane mushroom on their neurological function when administered as a preventative treatment.
Perform neurological functioning assays to determine the effects of the mushroom extract
Neurological Diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, affect around a 6th of the entire world's population. The Lions Mane mushroom has been proven to have many benefits for neurological function. However, the exact mechanism of how it works is still unknown. Which is why we studied its effectiveness to prevent neurological damage that occurs in these diseases.
Neurological Diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, affect around a 6th of the entire world's population. The Lions Mane mushroom has been proven to have many benefits for neurological function. However, the exact mechanism of how it works is still unknown. Which is why we studied its effectiveness to prevent neurological damage that occurs in these diseases.
Figure: Taken through the eyepiece of a dissection microscope, this picture shows (1) an empty chorion (2) an embryo prior to dechorionation and (3) an embryo after dechorionation.
Process
Process
Design research project and secure funding
Make an aqueous extract of the a laboratory grade Lions Mane for experimental trails
Test a series of experimental and control trials of zebrafish embryo's with induced neurodegeneration and mushroom extract
Perform assays to determine neurological function of embryos after 5 days
Analysis of data to determine the effectiveness of the extract and statistical significance of the results
Present findings in a research symposium
Results
Results
We measured the embryos’ neurological damage using two tests that evaluated their energy/reactivity and ease of movement. The reactivity test had a positive correlation, but the data was not statistically significant. The ease of movement test resulted in statistically significant data that showed an improvement in the embryos movement when exposed to the mushroom extract, presenting close to normal functioning. Overall, this data shows a strong correlation to improved neurological functioning when exposed to the mushroom extract.
Figure: This graph visually and numerically shows the average ease of movement ratings of the embryos in each experimental and control trial.
Figure: This picture shows a normal embryo with an average heart size. (b) When exposed to ethanol, the embryos showed an enlarged heart, as circled in the picture above.
Another interesting result observed was the effect on the embryos' hearts. When exposed to ethanol their hearts became significantly enlarged.
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