【Popular Science Disclaimer】This article is an ingredient science popularization content. Part of the content is sourced from public academic literature and industry research materials. It is only for industry knowledge sharing and does not constitute a product efficacy commitment. The actual efficacy of cosmetics shall be subject to the filing information; descriptions related to food refer to the compliance progress of raw materials and do not represent health care efficacy. The content of this article cannot replace medical diagnosis and treatment.
What is Ergothioneine?
Ergothioneine is a compound discovered by French scientists in Claviceps purpurea in 1909. Its pure form appears as white crystalline powder, soluble in water, methanol and ethanol. In dissolved state, it exists in two tautomeric forms: thiol and thione. It will not auto‑oxidize under physiological pH conditions and in strong alkaline solutions.
Ergothioneine Fact Sheet
Item | Content |
|---|---|
Chinese Name | Ergothioneine, 2‑mercaptohistidine trimethyl inner salt |
English Name | L‑Ergothioneine (EGT) |
CAS No. | 497‑30‑3 |
Molecular Formula | C₉H₁₅N₃O₂S |
Molecular Weight | 229.3 |
Appearance | White crystalline powder |
Research‑oriented effects | Antioxidation, protection against UV‑induced damage, mitigation of photo‑aging‑related changes |
In nature, ergothioneine is mainly biosynthesized by fungi, bacteria and other organisms. Humans and animals cannot synthesize it endogenously and can only obtain it indirectly through food intake.
Studies have found that ergothioneine preferentially accumulates in organs or cells susceptible to high‑level oxidative stress, such as the liver, red blood cells and eye lenses. This indicates that the body’s tissues have physiological relevance to ergothioneine, which is a key feature attracting continuous research interest in the scientific community.
Application Status of Ergothioneine
Ergothioneine was first isolated from ergot fungi back in 1909. Restricted by early extraction technologies, natural extraction suffered from low yield and high cost. For a long time, it was only studied in laboratories and large‑scale commercialization was difficult to achieve.
With iterative advances in synthetic biology, high‑purity ergothioneine prepared via bio‑fermentation has become technically mature. Domestic raw‑material manufacturers have realized large‑scale mass production with reduced costs, laying an industrial foundation for multi‑field applications.
Application Status of Ergothioneine in China
1. Cosmetic Sector
Ergothioneine (EGT) is officially included in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Raw Materials (2021 Edition) as a legally permitted cosmetic raw material for use in various cosmetic products.
Inventory inclusion information
Entry No.4576 in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Raw Materials (2021 Edition) Raw‑material name: Ergothioneine; English name: ERGOTHIONEINE
Main compliant efficacy claims
Antioxidation: This is the core compliant claim for ergothioneine. Supported by its free‑radical‑scavenging property, claims such as “resist free‑radical damage and improve oxidative dullness of skin” are applicable. Relevant evidence‑based studies suggest its antioxidant capacity is superior to conventional vitamin‑based ingredients.
Photoprotection and anti‑photo‑aging: Permitted claims include “assist in mitigating UV‑triggered skin damage and relieve fine lines and laxity caused by photo‑aging”. This corresponds to its capacity to accumulate in basal skin cells and down‑regulate UV‑induced inflammatory factors.
Skin tone evening: For qualified products with sufficiently high loading of high‑purity raw materials, upon completion of human‑subject efficacy evaluation, whitening‑related claims such as “whitening, fade spots and even skin tone” may be made under special‑cosmetic registration. Some registered whitening cosmetic products containing ergothioneine are available on the market with valid special‑cosmetic filing records.
Skin‑barrier repair: Valid claims include “reduce transepidermal water loss and strengthen skin barrier”. Test data shows that 12‑week continuous use of ergothioneine‑containing cosmetics can improve skin‑barrier conditions among test subjects.
2. Food and Nutrition Sector
Ergothioneine occurs naturally in edible fungi and can be ingested in small amounts through daily diet.
On May 17, 2024, the National Health Commission of China publicly released an announcement on the acceptance of novel‑food‑raw‑material applications. Ergothioneine was formally accepted and entered the public consultation phase as a potential novel food raw material, but it has not obtained official approval yet.
At present, ergothioneine shall not be added to ordinary food or dietary supplements in China without authorization. Multiple fundamental nutritional studies are ongoing in the industry, and relevant research findings are still being accumulated.
Global Application Status of Ergothioneine
In July 2017, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1281 authorized the placing on the market of L‑ergothioneine as a novel food ingredient in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Notification reference C(2017) 4844).
In November 2017, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a safety assessment report on synthetic L‑ergothioneine intended for use in food for infants, pregnant and lactating women. Based on overall toxicological data, the maximum anticipated daily intake levels are as follows: 2.82 mg/kg bw for infants, 3.39 mg/kg bw for young children, and 1.31 mg/kg bw for pregnant and lactating women. The no‑observed‑adverse‑effect level (NOAEL) identified in the original assessment was 800 mg/kg bw.
In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status to ergothioneine under intended conditions of use.
Beyond cosmetics and food, extensive fundamental research on ergothioneine is underway in biomedicine and biopharmaceutical fields, covering applications such as formulation protection and tissue‑related research. Most of these studies remain at cellular and animal‑experiment stages. Large‑scale conversion into commercial therapeutic products has not been realized, and extensive clinical application still requires further R&D progress.