Ergothioneine, EGT is a sulfur-containing alkaloid, a natural amino acid component. It is mainly found in mushroom and fungal cells. The body cannot synthesize it, so it can be supplemented through ergothioneine supplements.
In 1909, Professor Tanret isolated ergothioneine in his research on ergot fungi.
In 1911, Barger and Ewins studied its structure. It has two interconvertible structures. Under physiological pH conditions, it mainly exists in the thiol structure, and thiol is more stable than thiol.
In 2019, F. Franzoni, dean of the Italian International Medical School, published an article stating that ergothioneine is mainly transported to various cells and tissues through blood circulation, and can bind to metal ions intracellularly to reduce the reaction of metal ions catalyzing the production of free radicals, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage.
In 2005, the OCTN1 transporter was discovered. The OCTN1 transporter is distributed on the cell membranes of different tissues.
Ergothioneine is a substance that does not penetrate the membrane and requires transport proteins to enter the cell. The OCTN1 protein assists in the transport of carnitine, fatty acids, and acetylcholine, and has a good affinity for ergothioneine. Therefore, ergothioneine can enter the mitochondria to achieve antioxidant purposes.
When ergothioneine is ingested, the amount of ergothioneine accumulated in various tissues in the human body is related to the expression of OCTN1.
Ergothioneine benefits
The paper "The mechanism of action of the natural antioxidant ergothioneine in protecting DNA and protein from copper-induced oxidative damage" points out that ergothioneine can protect DNA and protein from copper-induced oxidative damage by forming a complex with Cu(l) that is not redox active. Ergothioneine can catalyze the removal of non-free radical oxidizing substances. A large number of experiments have confirmed that ergothioneine is a powerful scavenger of hypochlorous acid and singlet oxygen. Glutathione and ascorbic acid can only remove free radicals.
Is ergothioneine a longevity vitamin ?
Dr. B.D.Paul of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine discovered that ergothioneine is the only natural antioxidant that enters the mitochondria and cell nucleus. It removes ROS free radicals through the 0CTN-1 transporter, protects mitochondria from oxidative damage, and fundamentally eliminates aging factors.
At the cellular level. Disease and aging are both caused by cellular aging. A large part of the reason for cellular aging is that the mitochondria in the cells produce too many oxidative free radicals. Free radicals attack the cell membrane, causing the cell membrane phospholipids to peroxidize and damage, and the cell to die. Ergothioneine targets and binds to a specific transporter protein OCTN-1, directly removing free radicals. Therefore, ergothioneine can play an antioxidant role, protecting DNA and mitochondria, and is called longevity vitamin.
Reference
[1]. Oumari M, Goldfuss B,Stoffels C, Schmalz HG,Gruendemann D. Regeneration of ergothioneine after reaction with singlet oxygen. Free Radical Biology and Medicine.2019 Apr 1;134:498-504.
[2]. Ko HJ, Kim J, Ahn M, Kim JH, Lee GS, Shin T.Ergothioneine alleviates senescence of fibroblasts induced by UVB damage of keratinocytes via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1pathway and HSP70 in keratinocytes. Experimental Cell Research.2021 Mar 1;400(1):112516.
