Hericium erinaceus, an edible fungus belonging to the family Odontaceae, is predominantly found in Western Europe, North America, and East Asia. In China, it primarily thrives in the mountainous and forested regions in the northeast, north, and southwest. Historically, Hericium erinaceus has served as a medicinal and nutritional entity. Its mycelia and fruiting bodies are the products of its vegetative growth stage and reproductive growth stage, respectively. The principal active components are different Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEPs), which are a group of polysaccharides primarily composed of galactose, glucose, and a small amount of mannose and fucose. An extremely small number of HEPs contain fructose, glucuronic acid, xylose, arabinose, and other components. The common extraction method employed is water extraction followed by alcohol precipitation. HEPs exhibit a diverse array of biological activities, including immune enhancement, anti-tumor effects, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant capabilities, and antiviral functions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the extraction, separation, purification, structural analysis, biological activity, and toxicity assessments of HEPs. Additionally, it discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with scientific research and practical applications in this field.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major cause of drug development failure and post-marketing restrictions. To date, over 1,000 drugs have been reported to cause liver damage, such as acetaminophen, isoniazid, methotrexate, triptolide and so on. However, there are currently no effective therapies for DILI. Plant-derived natural products including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, and glycosides have been used for the treatment of DILI due to their low toxicity and strong bioactivity. These anti-DILI compounds involve multiple mechanisms, such as reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, restoring mitochondrial function, and suppressing apoptosis. This review primarily summarizes the recent advances over the past 5 years in the therapeutic potential of natural products against a range of commonly used hepatotoxic drugs rather than focusing on a specific hepatotoxic agent. The insights will provide a cue for further research and promote the development of novel and effective drugs for treating DILI.