Ergothionein was first reported in 1909 when Tanret et al. isolated a unique sulfur-containing crystal compound, 2-mercapto-L-histidine trimethylbetaine, while studying the ergot fungus that destroys rye grains. The compound was named ergothionein (ERG). ERG is mainly found in some fungi and bacteria, and animals cannot synthesize ERG themselves, relying mainly on food sources. Research has found that ERG is present in mammalian tissues and organs such as the eyeball, semen, and red blood cells, with an ERG content of approximately 1-2 mmol/L in red blood cells. Researchers compared the metabolic distribution of ERG in rabbits, dogs, and cats and found that ERG is mainly distributed in the liver, red blood cells, and kidneys. After consuming foods containing ERG such as boletus edulis, hairy headed devil’s umbrella, and shiitake mushroom, an increase in ERG levels can be detected in red blood cells, brain, liver, kidney, and eye tissues.

In 2005, a study found that recombinant organic cation transporter 1 (OCTN1) is the main transporter of ERG, with a transport efficiency four times higher than that of matrine and 100 times higher than that of carnitine. In OCTN1 knockout model animals, ERG is lacking in cells and tissues. The accumulation of ERG derived from food in vivo depends on the presence of OCTN1. The difference in the distribution of ERG in tissues is related to the difference in the expression of OCTN1 protein. The level of ERG in vivo is closely related to hepatointestinal diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and kidney diseases. This article summarizes the physicochemical properties, antioxidant properties, and intervention effects and mechanisms of ERG on oxidative stress-related diseases, providing reference for the diversified application of ergotamine.

ERG, as a natural antioxidant, has certain advantages compared to other antioxidants, and its antioxidant function makes it have great therapeutic or preventive potential for many oxidative stress-induced diseases. However, many unresolved issues may limit the further application of ERG. At present, there is still limited research on the use of ERG in disease prevention and treatment, and there is no substantial study on the correlation between ERG treatment dosage and disease; There is no substantial research on the correlation between dietary mushroom supplementation and consumption; In the study of supplementing ERG with edible mushrooms to prevent diseases, although it has been shown that this method has certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, due to the complex composition of mushrooms, it is difficult to target and determine the substances that exert their effects, and only trace amounts of ERG can be obtained through ingestion of mushrooms. Therefore, the role of ERG in medicine and clinical practice needs further exploration. In the research on preventing diseases, although it has been shown that this method has certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, it is difficult to target and determine the substances that play a role due to the complex composition of mushrooms, and only trace amounts of ERG can be obtained through ingestion of mushrooms. Therefore, the role of ERG in medicine and clinical practice needs further exploration.
ERG also has great potential in industries such as food and cosmetics. Recent studies have shown that ERG may be used as a longevity food to protect or improve some of the damage caused by aging, prevent UV induced photoaging damage and melanin deposition on human skin, and thus improve the quality of life.
The artificial synthesis of ERG is another field worth paying attention to. The early extraction of ERG from edible mushroom fruiting bodies had high costs and low yields, making it unsuitable for industrial applications. Compared with chemical extraction methods, the current edible mushroom liquid fermentation biosynthesis method has the advantages of low cost, high yield, and easy scale production, which may be the development direction of ERG synthesis technology.
Existing research has demonstrated the enormous potential for the application of ERG in fields such as medicine, food, health, and cosmetics. In particular, the breakthrough in the artificial synthesis of ERG has made its widespread use possible. However, basic and applied research on ERG is still relatively weak, and further research is needed to provide scientific basis for its application.