Key takeaways
- Hericenones are aromatic compounds from the Lion’s Mane fruiting body.
- They dissolve better in alcohol than in water.
- Content varies with strain, conditions and processing.
- Research is mainly laboratory work; no health claims are authorised.
Hericenones are among the compounds that make Lion’s Mane chemically distinctive. This article explains what they are.
What are hericenones?
Hericenones are a group of aromatic compounds first isolated from the fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus. Several have been identified and given letters, such as hericenone A, B, C and so on.
Where are they found?
They are associated with the fruiting body, the part of Lion’s Mane you can see, whereas the related interest in erinacines centres on the mycelium. See Erinacines Explained and Lion’s Mane Fruiting Body vs Mycelium.
Extraction
Hericenones are relatively non-polar, so they dissolve better in alcohol than in water. This is one reason a dual extract of the fruiting body makes sense. See How Lion’s Mane Extracts Are Made.
How much?
Content varies with strain, growing conditions and processing. We don’t state hericenone levels in our products, as they aren’t measured.