A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications
Ergothioneine (EGT), a natural thiol compound with potent antioxidant properties, exhibits diverse biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Despite its promising health and food applications, current production methods, such as mushroom-based...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1588 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849312717639254016 |
|---|---|
| author | Haijing Zhang Zheng Liu Zhong Wang Ziteng Lei Yan Jia Wei Chen Ruoyu Shi Chengtao Wang |
| author_facet | Haijing Zhang Zheng Liu Zhong Wang Ziteng Lei Yan Jia Wei Chen Ruoyu Shi Chengtao Wang |
| author_sort | Haijing Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ergothioneine (EGT), a natural thiol compound with potent antioxidant properties, exhibits diverse biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Despite its promising health and food applications, current production methods, such as mushroom-based liquid fermentation, are hindered by low yields and complex processes. Advances in biosynthetic fermentation, including heterologous expression of key pathway genes and optimization of cultivation conditions, offer promising solutions to these challenges. Recent discoveries, such as the catalytic efficiency of mononuclear non-heme iron enzymes like Egt1 and EgtB, have streamlined EGT biosynthetic pathways, reducing steps and increasing yield. The compound’s active transport via the OCTN1 protein facilitates its distribution across tissues, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy and potential in functional foods. Currently employed as an antioxidant and antimelanogenic agent in aquatic products, EGT holds vast potential for broader applications in food systems. This review explores the advancements in EGT production and biosynthesis while emphasizing its prospects as a safe, versatile, and effective natural ingredient for health and industrial applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8105889e2aef4e6896db6f7a38487c63 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-8105889e2aef4e6896db6f7a38487c632025-08-20T03:52:58ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01149158810.3390/foods14091588A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food ApplicationsHaijing Zhang0Zheng Liu1Zhong Wang2Ziteng Lei3Yan Jia4Wei Chen5Ruoyu Shi6Chengtao Wang7Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, College of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaYunnan Plateau Characteristic Agricultural Industry Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaBeijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaErgothioneine (EGT), a natural thiol compound with potent antioxidant properties, exhibits diverse biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Despite its promising health and food applications, current production methods, such as mushroom-based liquid fermentation, are hindered by low yields and complex processes. Advances in biosynthetic fermentation, including heterologous expression of key pathway genes and optimization of cultivation conditions, offer promising solutions to these challenges. Recent discoveries, such as the catalytic efficiency of mononuclear non-heme iron enzymes like Egt1 and EgtB, have streamlined EGT biosynthetic pathways, reducing steps and increasing yield. The compound’s active transport via the OCTN1 protein facilitates its distribution across tissues, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy and potential in functional foods. Currently employed as an antioxidant and antimelanogenic agent in aquatic products, EGT holds vast potential for broader applications in food systems. This review explores the advancements in EGT production and biosynthesis while emphasizing its prospects as a safe, versatile, and effective natural ingredient for health and industrial applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1588ergothioneinebiosynthesisfood industryfermentationtherapeutic applicationsfunctional foods |
| spellingShingle | Haijing Zhang Zheng Liu Zhong Wang Ziteng Lei Yan Jia Wei Chen Ruoyu Shi Chengtao Wang A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications Foods ergothioneine biosynthesis food industry fermentation therapeutic applications functional foods |
| title | A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications |
| title_full | A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications |
| title_short | A Review of Novel Antioxidant Ergothioneine: Biosynthesis Pathways, Production, Function and Food Applications |
| title_sort | review of novel antioxidant ergothioneine biosynthesis pathways production function and food applications |
| topic | ergothioneine biosynthesis food industry fermentation therapeutic applications functional foods |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/9/1588 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haijingzhang areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT zhengliu areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT zhongwang areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT zitenglei areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT yanjia areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT weichen areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT ruoyushi areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT chengtaowang areviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT haijingzhang reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT zhengliu reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT zhongwang reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT zitenglei reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT yanjia reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT weichen reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT ruoyushi reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications AT chengtaowang reviewofnovelantioxidantergothioneinebiosynthesispathwaysproductionfunctionandfoodapplications |