For your skin
A potent antioxidant from mushrooms that your skin actively pulls into cells. Quietly defends against UV damage from the inside of the cell, not just the surface.
Want the science? Keep reading ↓Mechanism of action
Sulfur-containing histidine derivative taken up into cells via the OCTN1 transporter; scavenges hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen and activates the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 antioxidant response pathway.
Why we tier this anecdotal
4 cited papers across 2 countries. Most of what's cited here is mechanism-level or in-vitro work. We track this as Anecdotal until controlled clinical trials accumulate.
Cited research
Li et al., Ergothioneine Protects Against UV-Induced Oxidative Stress Through the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway, Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 2024
Liu HM, Tang W, Wang XY, Jiang JJ, Zhang W, Wang W, Safe and Effective Antioxidant: The Biological Mechanism and Potential Pathways of Ergothioneine in the Skin, Molecules 2023;28(4):1648
Hseu YC, Lo HW, Korivi M, Tsai YC, Tang MJ, Yang HL, Dermato-protective properties of ergothioneine through induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated antioxidant genes in UVA-irradiated human keratinocytes, Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2015;86:102-17 — nanomolar ergothioneine activated Nrf2/ARE pathway (HO-1, NQO-1, gamma-GCLC), restored mitochondrial function and reduced UVA-induced damage
Markova NG, Karaman-Jurukovska N, Dong KK, Damaghi N, Smiles KA, Yarosh DB, Skin cells and tissue are capable of using L-ergothioneine as an integral component of their antioxidant defense system, Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2009;46(8):1168-76 — keratinocytes express OCTN1 and accumulate L-ergothioneine, which reduces ROS and DNA/protein/lipid damage under solar-simulating UV
Sources: PubMed · KCI · J-Stage · CNKI · Wanfang · SFD · MFDS · Cochrane · SCCS · CIR. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for what each outcome label means.