A brief introduction to ergothionein

Ergothionine (EGT) is a compound discovered in 1909, originally found in a fungus Claviceps purpurea. The pure product is white crystals, water-soluble (soluble at room temperature at 0.9 mol/L), and does not self oxidize at physiological pH and in strong alkaline solutions. It exists in two isomers, namely thiol and thione, as shown in the figure on the right.
Ergothionein is a natural antioxidant that can protect cells in the human body and is an important active substance in the body. Natural antioxidants are safe, non-toxic, and have become a hot research topic. As a natural antioxidant, ergothionein has entered people's field of vision. It has various physiological functions such as clearing free radicals, detoxification, maintaining DNA biosynthesis, normal cell growth, and cellular immunity.