Substrate-Driven metabolite diversification in Hericium erinaceus: Enhanced anti-Helicobacter pylori activity via brown rice cultivation

This study aimed to develop high-quality Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane mushroom) by the regulation of cultivation conditions. Eco-friendly cultivation strategy for H. erinaceus was developed by substituting conventional sawdust with brown rice as a growth substrate. Metabolomic profiling revealed distinct chemical compositions depending on the substrate: hericene A was identified as the principal compound in sawdust-grown fruiting bodies, whereas N -dephenylethyl isohericerin (NDPIH) dominated in specimens cultivated on brown rice. Remarkably, extracts from brown rice-grown mushrooms exhibited significantly enhanced anti- Helicobacter pylori activity, attributed to the potent inhibitory effects of NDPIH, which surpassed the comparatively modest activity of hericene A. Molecular networking-guided isolation led to the identification of nine additional compounds, including five isoindolinones and four isobenzofuranones, among which three new metabolites were characterized and designated as hericerinones A-C. Structure-activity relationship analysis suggested that variations in functional groups influenced anti- H. pylori efficacy. These results demonstrate that substrate composition modulates secondary metabolite biosynthesis and associated bioactivities in H. erinaceus . Brown rice not only induces a unique bioactive metabolite profile with therapeutic potential against gastrointestinal pathogens but also offers a sustainable, edible, and cost-effective alternative to conventional cultivation media [ 1 ]. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany