l-Ergothioneine modulates oxidative damage in the kidney and liver of rats in vivo: studies upon the profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 183 - 193
• Main Authors: Deiana, Monica, Rosa, Antonella, Casu, Viviana, Piga, Rosaria, Assunta Dessı̀, M, Aruoma, Okezie I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - analysis; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Arachidonic acid; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Ergothioneine - analysis; Ergothioneine - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - analysis; Ferric Compounds - administration & dosage; Ferric nitrilotriacetic acid; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Glutathione - analysis; Kidney - chemistry; Kidney - drug effects; l-Ergothioneine; Lipids - analysis; Liver - chemistry; Liver - drug effects; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Nitrilotriacetic Acid - administration & dosage; Nitrilotriacetic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Other diseases. Semiology; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Antioxidants; Oxidative stress; Arachidonic acid; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Ferric nitrilotriacetic acid; l-Ergothioneine; In vivo; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Urinary system; Rat; Animal; Rodentia; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Digestive diseases; Lipids; Hepatic disease; Kidney
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/S0261-5614(03)00108-0

Background & aims: l-Ergothioneine is a fungal metabolite exhibiting antioxidant functions in cells. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of oral administration of l-Ergothioneine on the oxidative damage in vivo caused by the Fenton reagent ferric-nitrilotriacetate. Methods: Rats were supplemented with l-Ergo prior to the administration of acute dose of ferric-nitrilotriacetate. Kidney and liver levels of l-ergothioneine, glutathione, α-tocopherol, polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated dienes were assessed. Results: Oral administration of 70 mg l-Ergo/kg body weight of rats for 7 days prior to the injection of ferric-nitrilotriacetate protected the fatty acids against oxidation, with notable protections directed to: 20:5 (eicosapentaenoic acid) (23%), 22:6 (docosahexaenoinic acid) (30%), 20:3 n6 (eicosatrienoic acid) (22%), 20:4 (arachidonic acid) (25%), 18:2 linoleic acid (25%) and 18:1 oleic acid (14%) in the kidney. The protection of 20:5, 20:3 n6 and 18:1 in the liver by 32%, 20% and 11%, respectively, were statistically significant. l-Ergothioneine significantly reduced kidney and liver levels of conjugated dienes and conserved the concentrations of α-tocopherol and glutathione in the kidney and liver in the ferric-nitrilotriacetate/ l-ergothioneine treated rats. Conclusion: Supplementation with l-ergothioneine not only protects the organs against the lipid peroxidation but conserves the consumption of endogenous glutathione and α-tocopherol. However consumption of mushrooms may have better promise as dietary sources of l-ergothioneine to humans.