Ergothioneine in the brain

Abstract

Edited by Barry HalliwellErgothioneine (ERGO) is a naturally occurring food-derived antioxidant. Despite its extremely hydrophilic properties, ERGO is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed to various organs, including the brain. This is primarily because its entry into brain cells is mediated by the ERGO-specific transporter OCTN1/SLC22A4. Octn1 gene knockout mice do not have ERGO in the brain, due to the absence of OCTN1 in neurons, neural stem cells, and microglia. The existence of OCTN1 and uptake of ERGO into the brain parenchymal cells may suggest that ERGO and its transporter play a pivotal role in brain function. Oral administration of ERGO has antidepressant activities in mice. Furthermore, repeated oral administration of ERGO and ERGO-containing food extract tablets enhance memory function in mice and humans, respectively. ERGO also protects against stress-induced sleep disturbance and neuronal injury induced by amyloid b in rodents. In vitro observations suggest that ERGO benefits brain function through both its antioxidative activity and by promoting neurogenesis and neuronal maturation. This review discusses the possible involvement of ERGO in brain function and its potential therapeutic properties.

Natural products for the treatment of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment and prospects of nose-to-brain drug delivery

“…Notably, EGT shows high blood-brain barrier permeability and possesses neuroprotective effects, which are associated with the expression of OCTN1 ( Nakamichi et al, 2012 ). The regulation of cellular functions by EGT has been found in neurons, neural stem cells, microglia, and cerebral vascular endothelial cells ( Ishimoto and Kato, 2022 ; Nakamichi et al, 2022 ). Recent experimental studies have shown that supplementation of EGT (2 or 8 mg/kg/day) for 58 days significantly restores EGT levels in brain tissues, prevents memory and learning impairment, and alleviates body weight loss induced by cisplatin ( Song et al, 2010 ).…”

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“…34,35 Experimental studies indicate that ergothioneine plays a beneficial role in the learning and memory of mice by preventing Aβ accumulation. [34][35][36][37] Moreover, vitamin D included in mushrooms may also show a beneficial effect on cognitive performance. 38,39 These studies suggested that mitigation of the risk of MCI may be attributed to the composition of protective effects of various nutrients from mushrooms.…”

Nutraceuticals as Modulators of Autophagy: Relevance in Parkinson’s Disease

“…Indeed, the interest around ERG is often focused on its ability to overcome neurotoxicity, usually induced by excess ROS. The role of ERG in the brain has already been reviewed a few times, most recently by Ishimoto and Kato [ 168 ] in their review titled “Ergothioneine in the brain”. Besides the excellent description of ERG, they also suggested a role for ERG in certain diseases of the central nervous system.…”