{
  "id": 14569448,
  "title": "The modulatory effects of Hericium erinaceus and donepezil on amyloid accumulation and autophagy-associated clearance in Aβ1-42-induced N2a cells",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/the-modulatory-effects-of-hericium-erinaceus-and-donepezil-on-amyloid",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.757182v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alzheimer's disease arises from an imbalance between amyloid-beta (A-beta) production and its clearance, prompting research into potential adjuncts to standard treatments. This investigation examined the impact of a methanolic extract derived from Hericium erinaceus, in conjunction with the cognitive enhancer donepezil, on A-beta1-42-induced injury in cultured cells. The researchers assessed the extract's composition, its ability to inhibit BACE1, and its effects on cell survival using various analytical techniques and assays. The extract contained ergothioneine and trace amounts of hericenone D. It demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of BACE1, reducing its activity by 69.97% (IC50 value of 69.97 +/- 36.10 g/mL). Following A-beta1-42 exposure, the extract-treated cells exhibited increased survival, with viability reaching 150.2% of control levels at a concentration of 40 g/mL. When combined with donepezil, the extract showed local synergy at specific dosages, reaching a Bliss independence score of 34.29. This combination yielded the highest observed cell viability, accompanied by lower levels of amyloid precursor protein, A-beta, and BACE1. Additionally, the combined treatment resulted in reduced levels of p62/A-beta accumulation when lysosomal blockade was applied. While the differences in protein response patterns between the combination and individual treatments were not statistically significant, these findings suggest that Hericium erinaceus may function as a synergistic adjunct to donepezil in managing A-beta-induced cellular damage. Further experiments are required to validate the proposed dual mechanisms of action involving both amyloidogenic processing and intracellular clearance. The keywords associated with this study are Hericium erinaceus, donepezil, BACE1, amyloid-beta, autophagy, and combination treatment.",
  "summary": "Background and objective: Alzheimers disease involves imbalanced amyloid-{beta} (A {beta}) production and clearance, supporting investigation of adjuncts to symptomatic treatment. This study evaluated whether methanolic Hericium erinaceus extract could support recovery after A{beta}1-42-induced injury, alone and with donepezil, through modulation of {beta}-secretase (BACE1) activity or…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}