Hericium erinaceus, in combination with natural flavonoids/alkaloids and vitamins B3/B8, may improve the inflammatory state in the tissues of inflammatory bowel diseases: an ex vivo study

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Antonietta Gerarda Gravina1*†, Raaele Pellegrino1†, Giovanna Palladino1, Annachiara Coppola1, Giovanni Brandimarte2, Concetta Tuccillo3, Fortunato Ciardiello3, Marco Romano1 and Alessandro Federico1

1Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy, 2Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy, 3Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy

**Hericium erinaceus, berberine, and quercetin have been shown to be effective in experimental colitis. Their effects in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in humans are not yet known. This ex vivo study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of a nutraceutical containing HBQ-Complex® (H. erinaceus, berberine, and quercetin), biotin, and niacin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.** **Tissue samples were obtained from the Apparently Normal Mucosa (NAM) or Inflamed Mucosa (IM) of 20 patients with IBD. The expression of mRNA and proteins COX-2, IL-10, and TNF-α was determined in biopsies of NAM and IM (T0). The IM samples were incubated with HBQ-Complex® (with the addition of niacin and biotin), and the levels of COX-2, IL-10, and TNF-α were assessed at 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2).** **Incubation with this compound resulted in a progressive reduction in the expression of COX-2 and TNF-α at T1/T2 in the IM. IL-10 showed an opposite trend, with a progressive increase in expression during the same time window. HBQ-Complex® (with the addition of niacin and biotin) reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in IBD tissues. Conversely, it leads to a progressive increase in the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.**

Bibliography

Antonietta Gerarda Gravina et al. Hericium erinaceus, in combination with natural flavonoid/alkaloid and B3/B8 vitamins, can improve inflammatory burden in Inflammatory bowel diseases tissue: an ex vivo study. Front Immunol. 2023; 14: 1215329.