Ergothioneine has been found in bacteria, plants and animals, sometimes at mill molar levels. Foods rich in ergothioneine include liver, kidney, black beans, red beans and oat bran, with the highest levels in bolete and oyster mushrooms.
OXIS International, Inc. (OXIS) was the first company to develop a patented, synthetic process for the manufacture of pure L-Ergothioneine (LE). This company develops technologies and products to research, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases of oxidative stress/inflammation associated with damage from free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The company holds the rights to several therapeutic classes of compounds in the area of oxidative stress, and has focused commercialization programs that include SOD (superoxide dismutase), MPO (myeloperoxidase), GPx (glutathione peroxidase). Over the years, LE research has been limited by the lack of availability of a commercial source of pure synthetic material, but finally researchers from OXIS have made amazing breakthrough by developing the first patented, synthetic process for the industrial preparation of pure LE and providing us this amazing super antioxidant.
Some of the potential benefit of L-Ergothioneine (LE) are :
- Dietary supplement
Oxis believes that the use of LE as an old dietary supplement is because it has been documented to have been in the food supply in significant quantities for at least a century prior to 1994.
- Specialized Unique Natural Antioxidant
LE is a highly protective, nontoxic, naturally occurring antioxidant that is not easily auto-oxidizable in aqueous solutions. It means it is water soluble and can reach near millimolar concentrations in selected tissues, and stimulates the natural antioxidant defenses within cells. The benefits of natural antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E in cancer, aging and general health are well known. And now we have new choice. LE is unique among antioxidants in that it chelates heavy metal, while protecting cells (principally erythrocytes) from ROS damage.
- Dermal Protectant/Anti aging
Free radicals in ultraviolet light has role in inducing skin damage and UVB radiation has part in skin cancer. LE has ability to minimize the formation of various ROS and to protect cells from radiation induced damage.
- Ophthalmic benefit
LE plays a critical role in the protection of the eye. An early study has shown that the eye contains extremely high concentrations of LE that decrease during cataract development. Also it protects eyes from UV Radiation.
- Energy enhancer
LE has effect in increasing the availability of cellular energy sources
- Organ Preservation
The availability of viable organs for transplantation is currently limiting the number of organ transplants that can be conducted. Preservation of the available tissues and prolongation of their viability is an important determinant in both the ultimate success of the procedure and the number of patients that can receive transplants. Specifically, liver viability is limited to 8 hours,which severely limits the transport of these organs. Although, current preservation solutions are formulated to include antioxidants such as glutathione, the instability of these compounds (significant degradation begins to occur immediately after manufacture) limits their usefulness in protecting organs from oxidative damage. Glutathione even in refrigerated preservation solutions is readily oxidized, to its disulfide form. The later form is cytotoxic and also facilitates inflammation-induced proteolysis. LE, a stable water-soluble thiol-containing antioxidant that also chelates metal ions, could be an ideal to replace glutathione in this mixture.
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