(1) Laboratory for Research on Biologically Compatible Compounds, Facility of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monsastir 5019, Tunisia.
(2) Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Torre Biologica, Via Santa sofia n. 97, 95125 Catania, Italia.
(3) Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Via Santa sofia n. 78, 95123 Catania Italy.
(4) Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Piazza G. Ceasre, 11, 70124, Bari Italy.
Received: 10 February 2020; Accepted 17 March 2020; Published: 20 March 2020

The in vitro study examined in pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells, whether the biomass form of Hericium erinaceus could exert a protective effect against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer known to cause neurotoxicity. The researchers demonstrated that pre-treatment with Hericium erinaceus significantly reduced in force DHEP induced cell death. The researchers further postulated that the protective effect may be attributed to Hericium erinaceus´ ability in:
a) reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels,
b) preserving the activity of respiratory complexes and
c) stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential.
Additionally, Hericium erinaceus pre-treatment significantly modulated Nrf2 and Nrf2-dependent vitagenes expression, preventing the increase of pro-apoptotic and the decrease of anti-apoptotic markers. Collectively the data provides evidence of new preventive nutritional strategy using Hericium erinaceus against DHEP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

Mycology Research Laboratories Ltd provided the Hericium erinaceus for this study.

Link to study
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/6/2138