What does ergothioneine do to the skin?

What is l-ergothioneine?

Ergothioneine (mercaptohistidine trimethyl inner salt, ergothioneine, EGT) 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 and non-toxic, and have become a research hotspot. As a natural antioxidant, ergothioneine has entered people's field of vision. It has various physiological functions such as scavenging free radicals, detoxification, maintaining DNA biosynthesis, normal cell growth and cellular immunity.

Ergothioneine is distributed in some tissues and organs of mammals, mainly in red blood cells (about 1-2 mmol.L) and the semen of some animals. Although no experimental studies have shown that animals can synthesize this substance, but There must be pathways for the absorption and retention of ergothioneine in animal cells. For carnivores, ergothioneine in animal tissues can supply dietary needs.

The essence of ergothioneine is a natural and rare amino acid, which was first discovered by French pharmacist Charles Tanret in 1909 when investigating the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea, and then scientific research found that ergothioneine also exists in human and other animal tissues.

Since ergothioneine was discovered in animal tissues, scientists have conducted more in-depth research on ergothioneine and found that it can effectively scavenge free radicals (the main factor causing human aging), protect cell membranes and mitochondrial membranes from immune Various functions such as oxidative damage, cell protection and anti-ultraviolet radiation.

What does ergothioneine supplement do to the skin?

The cosmetics industry is the most widely used field of ergothioneine. In recent years, one of the important driving forces for the rapid development of China's ergothioneine market is because of the wider application of ergothioneine in the cosmetics industry.

The main role of ergothioneine in the skin care industry is to whiten and remove freckles and act as an antioxidant. With a risk factor of 1, it is very safe, non-comedogenic, and non-irritating to pregnant women.

Ergothioneine is an imidazole alkaloid that widely exists in human blood, liver and internal organs, bacteria and plants, and has vitamin-like effects. It has been produced by synthetic method. Ergothioneine has coenzyme-like properties and participates in various biochemical activities of the human body. When applied externally to the skin, it can increase the activity of cortical cells and has anti-aging effects. Ergothioneine can inhibit the activity of melanocytes, reduce the production of melanin, and has a synergistic effect with human placenta extract. Ergothioneine has strong antioxidant properties, absorbs UV light in the D-zone, and can increase skin lightening effect.

Its role can be roughly summarized as the following points:

1. Antioxidant effect

It has the effect of antioxidants, and can also effectively remove hypochlorous acid, thereby preventing the loss of a 1-antiprotease. However, it cannot inhibit the peroxidation of lipid particles in the presence of iron ions.

2. Protective effect on cells

Ergothioneine is a powerful hypochlorous acid scavenger (HOCl), and while many compounds react with hypochlorous acid, few react as rapidly as ergothioneine. It protects red blood cells from neutrophils from either normal function or from sites of pathological inflammation.

3. Anti-inflammatory effect

Ergothioneine can inhibit peroxynitrite-mediated amino acid oxidation, such as tyrosine nitration, thus providing feasibility for the treatment of inflammation.

4. Other biological functions

It has strong antioxidant activity: scavenging reactive oxygen species, chelating divalent metal ions, activating antioxidant enzymes, inhibiting superoxide dismutase, inhibiting the oxidation of various heme proteins, etc.