Abstract
Medicinal mushrooms have become an attractive topic due to their bioactive compounds potentially useful for therapeutic use. Among the growing popularity of medicinal mushrooms is Hericium erinaceus. Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal edible mushroom with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in other countries of the East. Along with this, several of its biologically active compounds served as the basis for the creation of nutritional supplements. Its fruiting bodies and mycelium are rich in active substances that promote health. Tests of substances extracted from this fungus in animals and in vitro have given good results. They are beginning to be used in the treatment of cancer, liver diseases, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and wound healing. They improve cognitive abilities, support the nervous and immune systems.