Lion's Mane Extract
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Lion's Mane Extract falls short.
Single-ingredient Lion's Mane (500mg fruiting-body extract per capsule). ISO in-house lab publishes CoA per batch. Best for buyers who want one ingredient with per-batch lab documentation; one 500mg capsule is half the 1,000mg low end of our Lion's Mane reference dose (the label suggests 1-2 capsules).
What it does
Nootropics Depot Lion's Mane Extract is a single-ingredient supplement providing standardised Hericium erinaceus fruiting body extract at 500mg per capsule. Nootropics Depot operates an ISO-certified in-house testing laboratory and publishes a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for each batch.
How it works
Lion's Mane extracts raised Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in cell and mouse studies, but in one cell study the fruiting body's hericenones did not (Mori 2008); the compound shown to reach the brain, erinacine A, comes from the mycelium and was tested in rats (Tsai 2021). We found no human trial that measured NGF. NGF promotes neuronal survival, axon growth, and maintenance of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex -- the regions responsible for learning and memory. Nootropics Depot uses a standardised fruiting body extract rather than mycelium.
What to expect
Lion's Mane is a long-game supplement. Pilot trials reported small acute effects within 1–2 hours. In a trial in adults with mild cognitive impairment, scores improved after 16 weeks of 3g a day and fell again within 4 weeks of stopping (Mori 2009). At the label's 1–2 capsules a day (500–1,000mg), this product reaches at most the low end of the pilot-trial doses (1–1.8g) and a third of the 3g a day used by Mori 2009. For best results, take consistently every day. This product is best combined with a multi-ingredient stack (e.g. Mind Lab Pro already contains Lion's Mane) rather than used as a standalone primary supplement.
Hero ingredients
- Lion's Mane (standardised fruiting body extract)
Who it's for
- ISO lab -- publishes CoA per batch
- Standardised fruiting body
- Best value single-ingredient
Who should skip
- Free international shipping only on orders of $200+
- Single ingredient only
Dosing audit
| Ingredient | Label | Clinical | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion's Mane fruiting body extract (1:1) | 500mg | 1000-1800mg/day | ✕ Under |
Ingredient quality
Number and quality of evidence-graded ingredients. Trademarked extracts and standardized actives raise this score.
Dosing vs. clinical evidence
The share of ingredients with a reference dose on our ingredient pages whose label-stated daily amount meets that page's minimum. Amounts the label hides (blend shares) or states on a different basis count as not met; ingredients with no reference page are listed but not scored.
Formula transparency
Full disclosure of every ingredient at its exact dose. Proprietary blends are scored as opaque.
Value for money
Cost per month relative to per-serving clinical doses delivered. Cheaper products with underdoses score lower.
Brand trust
Brand reputation, third-party testing, refund track record, and Trustpilot signal across multiple years.
How the score is computed
Each pillar is weighted by editorial importance. Weights are constant across every brand we audit — they're not adjusted to favour any particular product.
- Ingredient quality25%
- Dosing vs. clinical evidence30%
- Formula transparency20%
- Value for money15%
- Brand trust10%
2,715 verified reviews
We don't embed cherry-picked quotes here. Trustpilot is the canonical source — the score above feeds into our Trust pillar.
Read all 2,715 reviews on Trustpilot →What the vendor’s site says
Quoted word for word from the vendor’s own pages. Terms change, so check them before you buy.
Shipping
Domestic orders $50 and more Ship via FedEx 2-3 Day Shipping.
Per support.nootropicsdepot.com (opens in new tab), checked
Returns
Nootropics Depot accepts returns of unopened product within 30 days of its delivery date. We do not accept returns or exchanges for opened and/or used product.
Per support.nootropicsdepot.com (opens in new tab), checked
Our affiliate cookie
We don't earn a commission on this product; we have no affiliate deal for it. Our scores and rankings follow our published methodology; commissions do not influence them.
Buying in the United States
- Local price
- ≈ $9.99/month
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Health disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Individual results vary.