Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane Review

Nootropics Depot sells three main lion’s mane products, and they are not interchangeable. The 1:1 fruiting body extract (25% beta-glucans) is the closest match to the dried-mushroom doses used in most human trials, though you need several capsules a day to get there. Erinamax is the only one that closely matches a specific trial dose, an erinacine A-enriched mycelium studied in mild Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s the most expensive. The 8:1 dual extract is convenient and cheap per capsule, but no trial maps cleanly onto it.

This is a research-based review. We did not personally test these products; we compared ND’s label claims (checked on nootropicsdepot.com) against published human studies.

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Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane Products: The Facts

Here is what ND lists on nootropicsdepot.com at the time of writing. Prices are starting prices for the smallest size and change often.

Product	Source	Extract / Standardization	Per Serving	Sizes	Starting Price
Lion’s Mane Mushroom 1:1 Capsules	Fruiting body	1:1 extract ratio, 25% beta-glucans	500 mg (1 capsule)	60, 180 ct	$19.99 (60 ct)
Lion’s Mane Mushroom 8:1 Dual Extract Capsules	Fruiting body	8:1 dual extract (water and ethanol)	500 mg (1 capsule)	60, 180 ct	$29.99 (60 ct)
Erinamax Capsules	Liquid culture mycelium	5 mg erinacine A per serving	1,000 mg (2 capsules)	60, 120 ct	$54.99 (60 ct)
Lion’s Mane 8:1 Powder	Fruiting body	8:1 extract	500 mg	30 g, 60 g	$28.99 (30 g)

ND also sells a whole fruiting body extract powder and several mushroom blends. As with its other products, ND says it publishes certificates of analysis; our main Nootropics Depot review explains how to read them.

Fruiting Body Vs Mycelium: Why It Matters

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) supplements are made from either the fruiting body, the shaggy mushroom you can cook, or the mycelium, the root-like network the mushroom grows from. A major review of the mushroom’s chemistry covers both and the different compounds isolated from them, including hericenones and erinacines.^[6] These two compound families are the ones most studied for nerve-growth-related effects, mostly in lab and animal research.^[7]

The practical point: most human cognition trials used the fruiting body, while the main mycelium trial used a product specifically enriched in erinacine A.^[1][5] ND covers both routes: fruiting body for its 1:1 and 8:1 products, mycelium for Erinamax. The same review of neuroprotective effects stresses that better standardization of lion’s mane supplements is still needed.^[7]

What Do “1:1,” “8:1” And “Dual Extract” Mean?

• 1:1 means roughly one unit of raw mushroom per unit of finished product, so 500 mg is close to 500 mg of mushroom. ND’s 1:1 is also standardized to 25% beta-glucans, a measurable marker.
• 8:1 means about eight units of raw mushroom were used per unit of extract. That concentrates whatever the solvents pull out, but it doesn’t mean one 500 mg capsule equals 4 g of whole mushroom in every compound.
• Dual extract means both water and ethanol were used. ND says this captures water-soluble polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble compounds.

What The Human Research Shows, And How ND’s Doses Compare

For a full overview, see our lion’s mane ingredient guide. These are the trials that matter most for choosing a product:

Study	Material And Daily Dose	Population And Duration	Closest ND Match
Mori 2009[1]	Dried fruiting body powder, 3 g (four 250 mg tablets, 3 times daily)	30 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, 16 weeks	1:1 capsules, about 6 a day
Saitsu 2019[2]	Fruiting body supplements	Randomized placebo-controlled, 12 weeks	1:1 or 8:1 fruiting body
Docherty 2023[3]	Lion’s mane, 1.8 g	41 healthy adults aged 18–45, 28 days	1:1 capsules, about 3–4 a day
Li 2020[5]	Erinacine A-enriched mycelium, three 350 mg capsules (5 mg/g erinacine A)	Mild Alzheimer’s disease, 49 weeks	Erinamax, 2 capsules (5 mg erinacine A)

Cognition In Older Adults

In the Mori trial, people taking 3 g a day of dried fruiting body scored significantly higher on a cognitive function scale at weeks 8, 12 and 16 than those on placebo. Four weeks after stopping, scores fell significantly, suggesting any benefit depends on continued use. Lab tests showed no adverse effects.^[1] A later 12-week fruiting body trial found improvement on the Mini-Mental State Examination, though not on two other cognitive tests.^[2]

Healthy Young Adults

In 41 healthy adults, a single 1.8 g dose made people faster on a Stroop task 60 minutes later, and 28 days of use showed only a trend toward lower subjective stress. The authors described the findings as tentative, with some null and limited negative results.^[3] If you are young and healthy, temper expectations.

Mood

In a small four-week study of 30 women, lion’s mane cookies lowered depression and “indefinite complaint” scores compared with baseline, with some measures better than placebo.^[4] That is Preliminary evidence.

Erinacine A Mycelium (Erinamax’s Closest Evidence)

In a 49-week pilot trial in mild Alzheimer’s disease, three 350 mg capsules a day of erinacine A-enriched mycelium (5 mg/g erinacine A) improved Mini-Mental State Examination scores and daily-living scores relative to placebo, while the placebo group declined on another cognitive screen.^[5] That works out to about 1 g of mycelium and roughly 5 mg of erinacine A a day, which is almost exactly what ND says a two-capsule serving of Erinamax delivers. It was a small pilot study in a specific patient group, so it doesn’t show what Erinamax does in healthy people. Lion’s mane is not a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Cost Per Day At Trial-Matched Doses

Using the starting prices above (smallest sizes, at the time of writing):

• 1:1 capsules: $19.99 for 60 is about $0.33 per capsule. Matching the 1.8 g young-adult trial takes 3–4 capsules (about $1.00–$1.33 a day); matching the 3 g Mori trial takes 6 (about $2.00 a day).
• 8:1 capsules: $29.99 for 60 is about $0.50 per capsule, and ND suggests one capsule. It’s the cheapest per day, but you can’t map it neatly to a trial dose.
• Erinamax: $54.99 for 60 capsules is 30 two-capsule servings, about $1.83 a day at the trial-matched dose.

Larger bottles may lower these costs; check current pricing.

Which Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane Should You Choose?

• Choose the 1:1 fruiting body capsules if you want to follow the fruiting body trials as closely as possible and don’t mind taking several capsules. The 25% beta-glucan standardization gives you a measurable marker.
• Choose Erinamax if you specifically want an erinacine A-standardized mycelium at the dose used in the Li trial and accept the higher cost.
• Choose the 8:1 dual extract if you want a simple one-capsule routine and accept that its dose isn’t directly matched to a published trial.
• Want a broader stack instead? Mind Lab Pro includes 500 mg of organic lion’s mane (fruit and mycelium), which is below the 1.8–3 g used in fruiting body trials; see our Mind Lab Pro review. For other memory options, see our best supplements for memory guide.

Side Effects And Who Should Avoid It

The Mori trial found no adverse effects on laboratory tests over 16 weeks, and the Saitsu authors described oral intake as safe.^[1][2] But the trials were small and short, so rare side effects would be missed, and interaction data are lacking. Avoid lion’s mane if you are allergic to mushrooms, and talk to your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take prescription medication or are being treated for cognitive decline. Our nootropic side effects guide covers general precautions.

Best Time To Take Lion’s Mane

There’s no evidence that timing matters much. The Mori trial split the dose three times a day,^[1] and the young-adult trial measured an effect 60 minutes after a single dose.^[3] Taking it with breakfast, or splitting it across meals if you take several capsules, is a practical approach. Benefits in trials appeared over weeks of daily use, not after one dose.

Where To Buy Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane

All three products are sold direct at nootropicsdepot.com, where purchases earn rewards points (see our Nootropics Depot coupon guide), and ND sells through an authorized Amazon store. On Amazon, buy only from listings marked “Sold by Nootropics Depot,” and double-check you’ve picked the right product, since the 1:1, 8:1 and Erinamax listings look similar. More ND options are on our Nootropics Depot hub.

Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane FAQs

Is Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane Fruiting Body Or Mycelium?

Both, in different products. The 1:1 and 8:1 extracts are fruiting body; Erinamax is liquid culture mycelium standardized to erinacine A.

Which Is The Best Nootropics Depot Lion’s Mane?

For matching most human trials, the 1:1 fruiting body extract. For matching the erinacine A mycelium trial, Erinamax. The 8:1 is the most convenient, but its dose isn’t tied to a specific trial.

How Much Lion’s Mane Should I Take Per Day?

Human trials of lion’s mane mushroom used 1.8 to 3 g a day.^[1][3] With ND’s 1:1 capsules, that’s about 4 to 6 capsules. For Erinamax, the label serving is 2 capsules.

Is The 8:1 Extract Eight Times Stronger?

Not necessarily. The ratio describes how much raw mushroom went into the extract, not a guaranteed eightfold amount of every active compound. Standardized markers such as beta-glucans or erinacine A are more informative.

How Long Does Lion’s Mane Take To Work?

Cognitive changes in older adults appeared from week 8 onward and faded after stopping.^[1] Give any product at least 8 to 12 weeks.

Is Erinamax Worth The Price?

Only if you specifically want erinacine A-standardized mycelium. Its dose closely matches a pilot trial in mild Alzheimer’s disease, but there’s no trial of Erinamax itself, and the evidence in healthy people is thin.

References

1. Mori K, et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2009;23(3):367-372. PubMed
2. Saitsu Y, et al. Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomed Res. 2019;40(4):125-131. PubMed
3. Docherty S, et al. The acute and chronic effects of lion’s mane mushroom supplementation on cognitive function, stress and mood in young adults: a double-blind, parallel groups, pilot study. Nutrients. 2023;15(22):4842. PubMed
4. Nagano M, et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed Res. 2010;31(4):231-237. PubMed
5. Li IC, et al. Prevention of early Alzheimer’s disease by erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia pilot double-blind placebo-controlled study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;12:155. PubMed
6. Friedman M. Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane) mushroom fruiting bodies and mycelia and their bioactive compounds. J Agric Food Chem. 2015;63(32):7108-7123. PubMed
7. Szućko-Kociuba I, et al. Neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of Hericium erinaceus. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(21):15960. PubMed