Ergothioneine

Ergothioneine/Drug Interactions:

  • Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: Although there was a lack of a statistically significant difference between the mean ergothioneine concentrations of the diabetic and nondiabetic populations, some subpopulations of diabetic patients had markedly elevated levels of ergothioneine compared with nondiabetic individuals (32).
  • Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: According to a review, prominent expression of the ergothioneine transporter, ETT, in monocytes suggests a protective role of ergothioneine in chronic inflammatory disorders (3). However, patients with certain autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, reportedly have unexplained high levels of ergothioneine their red blood cells (4; 29).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: According to in vitro research and secondary sources, ergothioneine may have immunomodulatory effects (15). Patients with certain autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, reportedly have unexplained high levels of ergothioneine their red blood cells (4; 29).
  • LithiumLithium: In bipolar patients treated with lithium, there was no change in the endogenous levels of ergothioneine in red blood cells (36).
  • Photosensitizing agentsPhotosensitizing agents: According to laboratory research, ergothioneine may have photoprotective effects (16; 17).
  • VerapamilVerapamil: In vitro, the ergothioneine transporter, ETT, was inhibited by verapamil (Ki=11mcM/L) (31).

    • Ergothioneine/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Anti-inflammatory herbsAnti-inflammatory herbs: According to a review, prominent expression of the ergothioneine transporter, ETT, in monocytes suggests a protective role of ergothioneine in chronic inflammatory disorders (3). However, patients with certain autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, reportedly have unexplained high levels of ergothioneine their red blood cells (4; 29).
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: According to in vitro studies, ergothioneine is a powerful scavenger of hydroxyl radicals and an inhibitor of iron or copper ion-dependent generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (7). In vitro, ergothioneine was as effective as carnosine, imidazole, histidine, and anserine in singlet oxygen quenching (10).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Although there was a lack of a statistically significant difference between the mean ergothioneine concentrations of the diabetic and nondiabetic populations, some subpopulations of diabetic patients had markedly elevated levels of ergothioneine compared with nondiabetic individuals (32).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: According to in vitro research and secondary sources, ergothioneine may have immunomodulatory effects (15). Patients with certain autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, reportedly have unexplained high levels of ergothioneine their red blood cells (4; 29)
  • PhotosensitizersPhotosensitizers: According to laboratory study, ergothioneine may have photoprotective effects (16; 17).
  • Vitamin CVitamin C: In vitro, in the presence of vitamin C, the oxidized form of ergothioneine was repaired by a rapid reduction (k=6.3 x 108M-1s-1), producing ascorbyl radicals (37).

    • Ergothioneine/Food Interactions:

  • Dietary sources of ergothioneine include various types of mushrooms (king bolete, oyster mushroom), chicken liver, pork liver, pork kidney, oat bran, and beans (black turtle bean, red kidney bean) (2).

    • Ergothioneine/Lab Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.