Cited by 254Sulfur Compounds in BiologyAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative StressFree Radicals and Antioxidants

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The antioxidant action of ergothioneine

Akanmu, Dola, Cecchini, Rubens, Aruoma, Okezie I., Halliwell, Barry·1991·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

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Abstract

Ergothioneine is a product of plant origin that accumulates in animal tissues. Its suggested ability to act as an antioxidant has been evaluated. Ergothioneine is a powerful scavenger of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) and an inhibitor of iron or copper ion-dependent generation of .OH from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It is also an inhibitor of copper ion-dependent oxidation of oxyhaemoglobin, and of arachidonic acid peroxidation promoted by mixtures of myoglobin (or haemoglobin) and H2O2. Ergothioneine is a powerful scavenger of hypochlorous acid, being able to protect alpha 1-antiproteinase against inactivation by this molecule. By contrast, it does not react rapidly with superoxide (O2-) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and it does not inhibit microsomal lipid peroxidation in the presence of iron ions. Overall, our results show that ergothioneine at the concentrations present in vivo could act as an antioxidant.

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Authors: Akanmu, D., Cecchini, R., Aruoma, O. I., & Halliwell, B.
Affiliations: University of London (GB)
University of California Davis Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author: Halliwell, Barry
ORCID: Aruoma, Okezie I.
Halliwell, Barry
Venue: Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1991-07
Volume: 288
Issue: 1
Pages: 10-16
ISSN: 0003-9861 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/0003-9861(91)90158-f
OpenAlex: W2039684034
Cited by: 251
References: 51
Citations by year: 2026: 17 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 2.17
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Sulfur Compounds in Biology
Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry (medical) › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Keywords: ergothioneine, antioxidant activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide, copper-catalyzed oxidation, iron-catalyzed oxidation, arachidonic acid peroxidation, myoglobin, hypochlorous acid, alpha-1-antiproteinase, superoxide, lipid peroxidation
MeSH terms: alpha 1-Antitrypsin, Animals, Antioxidants, Copper, Ergothioneine, Hemoglobins, Humans, Hydrogen Peroxide, Hydroxides, Myoglobin, Superoxides, Lipid Peroxidation, Hydroxyl Radical, In Vitro Techniques

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The antioxidant action of ergothioneine

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