Ergothioneine – a diet‐derived antioxidant with therapeutic potential

• Published in: FEBS letters Vol. 592; no. 20; pp. 3357 - 3366
• Main Authors: Halliwell, Barry, Cheah, Irwin K., Tang, Richard M. Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.2018
• Subjects: antioxidant; antioxidants; diet; ergothioneine; human health; humans; oxidative damage; reactive oxygen/nitrogen species; therapeutics; thiols; urine; ergothioneine; oxidative damage; antioxidant; reactive oxygen/nitrogen species

Ergothioneine is a thiol/thione molecule synthesised only by some fungi and bacteria. Nonetheless, it is avidly taken up from the diet by humans and other animals through a transporter, OCTN1, and accumulates to high levels in certain tissues. Ergothioneine is not rapidly metabolised, or excreted in...