For ergosulfur, which has significant and unique biological functions, scholars from various countries have carried out research on its application very early. Although it needs to be further in-depth, it has a very good enlightening effect on its application in various fields.
Ergothioine has a wide range of uses and market prospects in the fields of cosmetics, cell preservation, medicine, food and beverage, functional food, animal feed, organ transplantation and biotechnology.
- Used as a unique antioxidant
L-ergothioneine is a natural antioxidant that protects cells, is non-toxic and does not readily oxidize in water, allowing specific tissue concentrations to reach millimoles, stimulating the cells’ natural antioxidant defenses. . Among the many antioxidants, l-ergothioneine is particularly unique because it can chelate heavy metal ions. It can protect the body’s red blood cells from free radical damage.
- Added to cosmetics as a skin protectant
Ultraviolet UVA from sunlight penetrates down to the dermis layer of human skin, affecting the growth of epidermal cells, killing surface cells and causing premature skin aging, and ultraviolet UVB is more likely to cause skin cancer. Ergothione minimizes the generation of active oxygen and protects cells from radiation damage, so it can be used in the development of outdoor skin care products and protective cosmetics as a skin protectant added to certain cosmetics.
The length and amount of preservation of existing tissue plays a decisive role in the success of organ transplantation. The most widely used antioxidant for organ transplantation is glutathione, which is easily oxidized when exposed to the environment, and its antioxidant capacity is greatly reduced even in refrigerated storage or liquid environment, which is toxic to cells and causes inflammation and induces hydrolysis of tissue proteins. Ergothione is like an antioxidant that is stable in aqueous solution and can chelate heavy metal ions, and can be used as a substitute for glutathione in the field of organ protection to better protect transplanted organs.
- Application in ophthalmology
In recent years, studies have shown that l-ergothioneine plays an important role in eye protection, and many researchers are hoping to develop ophthalmic products that promote the development of ophthalmic treatments. Ophthalmic surgery is generally performed topically, and the solubility and stability of l-ergothioneine provide the possibility of surgery, which has great application value.
Due to the excellent properties of ergothione, it can be applied in various fields. For example, it is used in the fields of pharmaceuticals, food, health products, cosmetics, etc. In the medical field, it can be used to treat inflammation, etc., it can be made into tablets, capsules, oral preparations, etc., and in the health product field, it can prevent cancer, etc. It is made into products in the functional food, functional beverage, cosmetic field, etc., used for anti-aging, and can be made into sunscreen and other products.
As people’s health awareness increases, the superior properties of l-ergothioneine, a natural antioxidant, will gradually become more widely recognized and applied by people.