Ergothioneine / EGT

Introduction 

It is a compound discovered in 1909, originally found in a fungus Claviceps purpurea. The pure product is white crystals, water-soluble (can dissolve 0.9 mol/L at room temperature), and does not self oxidize in physiological pH values and strong alkaline solutions. It exists in two isomers, namely thiol and thione, as shown below:

Ergothionein is a natural antioxidant that can protect cells in the human body and is an important active substance in the body. Natural antioxidants are safe, non-toxic, and have become a hot research topic. As a natural antioxidant, ergothionein has entered people's field of vision. It has various physiological functions such as clearing free radicals, detoxification, maintaining DNA biosynthesis, normal cell growth, and cellular immunity.

Function 

Ergothionein is a potent natural antioxidant that can be found in animal semen and various medicinal plants. It has antioxidant properties, improves skin condition, protects cells, clears free radicals, and moisturizes.

1. Antioxidant

Ergothionein is a compound that has been proven to have antioxidant properties, capable of neutralizing free radicals and enhancing the body's antioxidant capacity;

2. Improve skin condition

Ergothionein can usually be added to various skincare products and applied topically to the surface of the skin. It has the effect of protecting the skin, reducing oxidation, and helping to improve the skin's condition;

3. Protecting cells

Ergothionein is a powerful hypochlorous acid scavenger that is particularly sensitive to hypochlorous acid and can resist the inactivation caused by hypochlorous acid, protecting cells from damage;

4. Eliminate free radicals

The antioxidant principle of ergothionein is similar to that of Glutathione, and it has a good clearing effect on hydroxyl radicals, peroxynitrates, and nitrogen radicals in the skin;

5. Moisturizing

Daily use of skincare products containing ergotamine not only has the above-mentioned effects, but also moisturizes the skin and prevents dryness.

Ergothionein is a common chemical substance found in mushrooms, other foods, drugs, and skincare products. It is non-toxic, safe, and does not pose a threat to human health. If you are worried about using certain products and have doubts about chemical components such as ergotamine, you can consult a doctor at the hospital.

Synthetic Method

There are three methods for preparing ergothionein: chemical synthesis, extraction, and biological fermentation synthesis.

1. The chemical synthesis of levoergotamine sulfide is very difficult, and several synthesis methods have not achieved the expected yield due to partial or complete racemization. The difficulty of synthesis is that it is difficult to prepare the raw material 2-mercaptoimidazole, and the acidity of the alpha carbon makes the reaction prone to racemization. However, due to the difficulty in ensuring the safety of chemically synthesized products, expensive synthesis materials, high synthesis costs, and high product prices, the application of ergotamine is limited.

2. The natural biological extraction method extracts ergothionein from the fruiting bodies of edible fungi, pig blood, animal tissues, ergot, and grains. However, the content of ergothionein in the above raw materials is still very low, and there are problems such as high impurities in the raw materials, drug residues, and high extraction costs, which limit the application of ergothionein and are not suitable for industrialization;

3. The biosynthesis of ergothionein through deep fermentation technology of mushroom mycelium is the mainstream direction for low-cost and large-scale production of ergothionein. Fermentation process control methods such as metabolic regulation can effectively improve the yield of ergothionein, reduce production costs, and more importantly, ensure product safety and broaden the application space of ergothionein.

Application areas of ergothionein

In the field of medicine: used for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, etc. In addition, it also has insecticidal, skin disease treatment, and neuropathic headache relieving effects.

In the field of food and cosmetics: As a natural antioxidant, ergotamine is also widely used in food and cosmetics, which can extend the shelf life of food and protect the skin from UV damage.

Related news of Ergothionein

The antioxidant benefits of CAS No.497-30-3 Ergothioneine for the skin