Ergothioneine powder products are more and more popular in the market. Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid. In 1909, French chemist Charles Tanret first isolated ergothioneine from the ergot fungus and named it after the fungus. In 1911, Barger and Ewins determined its structure as the trimethyl internal salt of L-mercaptohistidine. It is the only natural 2-thioimidazole amino acid (2-thio-imidazole) known so far. The INCI name is Ergothioneine, referred to as EGT or ET. Since then, multiple studies have confirmed the antioxidant capabilities of ergothioneine. However, its physiological effects and absorption mechanism have not been clear, and it has not become a research hotspot.
In 2005, with the discovery of the ergothioneine transporter (ETT) in the human body, ergothioneine once again became the focus of attention. The product of the human gene SLC22A4 can transport ergothioneine into cells with extremely high efficiency (50–200 µL·min − 1·mg protein−1). This product was once called "OCTN1 (organic cation transporter, novel) organic cation transporter". But in fact, the description of OCTN1 as an ergothioneine transporter is inaccurate. It can even be misleading at times.
Because the ergothioneine transporter is not a general organic cation transporter. The product of the human gene SLC22A4 transports ergothioneine at a rate 100 times higher than that of ordinary organic cation transporters. Due to the huge difference in transport efficiency. "Organic cation transporter OCTN1" has no significance for ergothioneine transport. Even harmful, this resulted in many futile experiments being performed with OCTN1, which wasted a lot of resources. In fact, the product of human gene SLC22A4 that is more effective in transporting ergothioneine is ETT. Quoted from Gründemann, D., L. Hartmann, and S. Flögel, The ergothioneine transporter (ETT): substrates and locations, an inventory. FEBS Lett, 2022.596(10): p.1252-1269.
On July 13, 2017, the European Union issued Regulation (EU) 2017/1281, approving ergothioneine as a new resource food ingredient. On August 22, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that ergothioneine is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) under "conditions of intended use", GRN734. These two approvals allow ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant, to be used in common foods in Europe and the United States.
In 2018, due to the positive anti-aging effects of ergothioneine. It reduces the risk of chronic disease and premature aging. Dr.Bruce lists it as one of the top ten longevity vitamins.
Structure
Ergothioneine has a tautomeric structure between the thiol and thione forms. Under physiological conditions (around pH 7.4), it mainly exists in the form of thione.
Ergothioneine form (left) and thiol form (right)
Due to the presence of the double bond of S (sulfur), it is less reactive with oxygen. Ergothioneine in the thionone form is more stable. When the thiol structure is consumed, the stable thione structure is converted into thiol and used by the body. Due to the particularity of its thione structure, ergothioneine powder has high oxidative stability. It is not as easily oxidized as glutathione (GSH) or vitamin C.
Physical Properties
Ergothioneine is basically colorless and odorless, with a molecular weight of 229.3. Its solubility in aqueous solutions is relatively high (water solubility limit is 0.9M at 25°C).
Stability
Thanks to its thione structure, ergothioneine is stable at high temperatures or at various pH values. It has been documented in the literature that at a pH of 7. ergothioneine is stable at temperatures up to 100°C for 120 minutes. In addition, it was also confirmed that the structure of ergothioneine can be maintained for 3 weeks at 30°C and a pH value of 3 to 10. Additionally, ergothioneine is stable at neutral pH for 4 weeks at 50°C. When the pH value is 1 and pH value is 11, the decomposition rate is only 40% and 60%.
Stability of ergothioneine (from literature)
This indicates that ergothioneine retains most of its antioxidant activity or functions during production and storage. More importantly, ergothioneine does not degrade in stomach acid after entering the human body. Because the oxidation of ergothioneine powder occurs very slowly at a pH of 1. However, ergothioneine is indeed quite stable to heat, but it is actually very fragile to light.
Safety
Various studies have demonstrated the safety of ergothioneine. In vitro chromosomal aberration testing and in vivo red blood cell testing showed that ergothioneine has no genotoxic effects. Additionally, ergothioneine is not toxic to reproduction or development, based on results from rat studies. A 28-day oral toxicity study was conducted on ergothioneine. The results showed that adult male and female rats showed no abnormal clinical observations and histological changes on a daily basis. Based on the results of the 28-day study, a long-term (90-day) oral toxicity study was conducted. Doses were 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg body weight/day (i.e. milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day), and various clinical observations and histological analyzes showed that the highest dose of 1600 mg/kg body weight/day had no adverse effects. Similarly, in human studies, oral administration of ergothioneine resulted in neither increases in biomarkers of oxidative damage nor decreases in liver function indices.
Applications in the field of cosmetics
Since skin tissue cells have ergothioneine transporters, skin cells can easily accept and obtain it. Utilizing ergothioneine, it is logical for ergothioneine food to be used in the field of cosmetics. Its mechanism of action is to enter cells and mitochondria through transporters in keratinocytes and fibroblasts, directly remove reactive oxygen free radicals, and play an antioxidant and protective role in mitochondrial DNA.
In 2007, Estée Lauder reported in a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology that ergothioneine was more effective than coenzyme Q10 and idebenzene in scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from UV-induced reactive oxygen species. powerful. The Estee Lauder Group is also the earliest user of ergothioneine in the cosmetics field, and is used by many of its brands.
In the research report of Bloomage Biotech, a 1.5% concentration of ergothioneine aqueous solution can almost completely eliminate ROS free radicals induced by UV. The DPPH free radical scavenging ability of ergothioneine aqueous solution with a concentration of 1.3% is 14 times that of glutathione of the same concentration and 30 times that of coenzyme Q10. Compared with the classic antioxidants glutathione, vitamin E, uric acid, etc., ergothioneine has stronger activity against hydroxyl free radicals, peroxyl free radicals and peroxynitrite free radicals.
In my country, ergothioneine was included in the "Catalogue of Used Cosmetic Raw Materials" by the State Food and Drug Administration in 2014. As of September 2022, in the field of beauty and cosmetics, according to beauty practice data, there are about 4,800 products containing ergothioneine. As of November 29, the number of times ergothioneine has been used in registered valid products has reached 6,544, and the number of registered products has surged.
More studies have proven that ergothioneine is not just an antioxidant. It can fight glycation, whiten, protect against radiation, reduce wrinkles, remove acne and eye bags, shrink pores, delay aging, prevent hair loss, promote hair regeneration and improve hair quality.
Shaanxi Guanjie Biotechnology Co., Ltd. produces l ergothioneine powder greenly and efficiently through bioengineering, continuously optimizing strains and purification processes, and has become a leader in the global ergothioneine industry. Welcome to request samples and information: info@gybiotech.com
