Hot water soluble extract was prepared from Hericium erinaceus and its neuritogenic activity on PC12h cells was analyzed, which is a clone originating from a rat pheochromocytomon. The freeze dried hot water extract showed a moisture content of 12.08%. The extract was mainly composed of crude protein (24.04%) followed by crude fat (0.26%), dietary fiber (5.09%,) carbohydrate (51.24%) and ash (12.18%). Fatty acids, glucan and inorganic constituents were found as minor components. The neuritogenic activity of hot water extract was evaluated under microscope by monitoring of neurite outgrowth in PC12h cells and by measuring the neurite length of induvidual cells. The extract exhibited strong induction neurite outgrowth in a does-dependent manner from 0.01 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml, in which longer neurite outgrowth was observed as the treatment dose increased. The result was compared similar effect of nerve growth factor(NGF) on tested cells.

• Hye-Jeong See(Department of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 456-756, Korea)
• Hua-Lee( Department of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 456-756, Korea) | Hua-Lee
• Chan Lee( Department of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 456-756, Korea) | Chan Lee