Structural characterization of polysaccharide purified from Hericium erinaceus fermented mycelium and its pharmacological basis for application in Alzheimer's disease: Oxidative stress related calcium homeostasis

The purified polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus fermented mycelium entitled with PHEB was analyzed and it was mainly composed of six glycosidic bonds. It has been confirmed to show the relieving activity against Alzheimer's Disease (AD)-just as behaviors of B6C3-Tg (APPswePSEN1d E9)/Nju double transgenic [Genotype: (Appswe)T, (Psen1) T] (APP/PS1) mice. Six-week PHEB administration significantly improved the cognitive behavior of mice. Brain injury, amyloid beta deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation were alleviated in PHEBtreated AD mice without changes in other tissues. PHEB alleviated the oxidative stress in brains of AD mice via regulation the Nrf2 and its downstream kinase, which further improved the cholinergic system function. Proteomics and bioinformatics analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of PHEB is achieved by regulating calcium homeostasis mediated by oxidative stress. Furthermore, PHEB regulated the CaMK II/IV to achieve the calcium homeostasis in brains; and ultimately to show the anti-AD property.

Automated summary

Purified polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus fermented mycelium, known as PHEB, showed significant improvement in cognitive behavior of AD mice by alleviating oxidative stress through Nrf2 regulation. Furthermore, PHEB regulated calcium homeostasis in the brain by modulating CaMK II/IV, ultimately exhibiting anti-AD properties.