ERGOTHIONEINE

OTHER NAME(S):

1-carboxy-2-[2-mercaptoimidazole-4-(or 5)-yl]ethyl]-trimethyl-ammonium hydroxide, 2-Mercaptohistidine Trimethylbetaine, Ergothionéine, Ergotioneina, Erythrothioneine, ET, L-Ergo, L-Ergothioneine, S-alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N-N,-trimethyl-thioxo-1H-imidazole-4-eth-anaminium hydroxide, Sympectothion, Thiasine, Thiazine, Thiolhistidinebetaine, Thioneine, Thionéine, Thiozine.<br/><br/>

Overview

Overview Information

Ergothioneine is an amino acid that is found mainly in mushrooms, but also in king crab, meat from animals that have grazed on grasses containing ergothioneine, and other foods. Amino acids are chemicals that are the building blocks for proteins. Ergothioneine is used as medicine.

People take ergothioneine for liver damage, cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and heart disease.

Ergothioneine is sometimes applied directly to the skin to prevent wrinkles, reduce signs of aging skin, and reduce sun damage.

How does it work?

Researchers are investigating ergothioneine to determine if it can reduce swelling (inflammation) in the lungs and damage in the liver, kidneys, and brain.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of ergothioneine for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

Ergothioneine is LIKELY SAFE when used in amounts found in foods. But there isn’t enough information to know if ergothioneine is safe when taken as a supplement for medical purposes.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of ergothioneine during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for ERGOTHIONEINE Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of ergothioneine depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for ergothioneine. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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View References

REFERENCES:

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  • Jang JH, Aruoma OI, Jen LS, et al. Ergothioneine rescues PC12 cells from beta-amyloid-induced apoptotic death. Free Radic Biol Med 2004;36:288-99. View abstract.
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  • Moncaster JA, Walsh DT, Gentleman SM, et al. Ergothioneine treatment protects neurons against N-methyl-D-aspartate excitotoxicity in an in vivo rat retinal model. Neurosci Lett 2002;328:55-9. View abstract.
  • Rahman I, Gilmour PS, Jimenez LA, et al. Ergothioneine inhibits oxidative stress- and TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappa B activation and interleukin-8 release in alveolar epithelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003;302:860-4. View abstract.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2018.