The biology of ergothioneine, an antioxidant nutraceutical

• Published in: Nutrition research reviews Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 190 - 217
• Main Authors: Borodina, Irina, Kenny, Louise C., McCarthy, Cathal M., Paramasivan, Kalaivani, Pretorius, Etheresia, Roberts, Timothy J., van der Hoek, Steven A., Kell, Douglas B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Actinobacteria - chemistry; Amino acids; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Betaine; Biological Products - pharmacology; Biosynthesis; Cell culture; Dietary Supplements; Enzymes; Ergothioneine - pharmacology; Erythrocytes; Fruit bodies; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Fungi; Fungi - chemistry; Gene expression; Histidine; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; Mushrooms; nutrition research; Organic Cation Transport Proteins - metabolism; Organisms; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Phylogenetics; Review; soil; solutes; Symporters - metabolism; Tuberculosis; Ergothioneine; SLC22A4; Oxidative stress; Cytoprotectants; Nutraceuticals

Ergothioneine (ERG) is an unusual thio-histidine betaine amino acid that has potent antioxidant activities. It is synthesised by a variety of microbes, especially fungi (including in mushroom fruiting bodies) and actinobacteria, but is not synthesised by plants and animals who acquire it via the soi...