S. crispa is rare in nature, and only recently it has been possible to artificially cultivate edible (and medicinal) mushrooms species in Japan. S. crispa is also called cauliflower mushroom. It is known that S.crispa contains large amount of b-glucan that shows anti-tumor activity on ICR (constructed type in Institute of Cancer Research) mice by intraperitonial or oral administration.
H. erinaceum is also a rarity, and is called lion's mane mushroom, etc., in relation to its shape. Kawagishi and co-workers identified the nerve growth factors hericinones, erinacines, and erinacol from its fruiting body. Two proteins, a sialic acid-binding lectin and a laccase have also been previously identified from its fruiting body.
''Other than the polysaccharide b-glucan and 2 proteins identified from
these two mushrooms, there are no reports on other expressed protein components.''
