Ergothioneine as a promising natural antioxidant: bioactivities, therapeutic potential, and industrial applications

Ergothioneine (EGT) is a naturally occurring thiol-containing amino acid derivative synthesized by certain fungi and bacteria, with humans acquiring it exclusively through dietary intake. It has gained increasing attention due to its exceptional antioxidant, cytoprotective, and metal-chelating properties. EGT shows high stability under physiological conditions and can accumulate in specific tissues via the highly selective transporter OCTN1. Emerging evidence reveals its antioxidant activities—mitigating oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation—supporting therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic, and age-related diseases. In the food industry, EGT offers promise as a natural preservative to enhance shelf-life and nutritional value, while in cosmetics, it functions as an anti-aging and anti-photoaging agent. Recent advances in fermentation, metabolic engineering, and chemical synthesis have significantly improved EGT production, supporting its transition from a niche compound to an industrially relevant bioactive ingredient. However, clinical trials and regulatory assessments remain limited, and further research is needed to explore its bioavailability, and synergistic effects with other functional compounds. This review provides a comprehensive summary of EGT's biological functions, application potential, and current production strategies, offering insights into its future development as a high-value nutraceutical and pharmaceutical ingredient.