title: Antioxidant action of ergothioneine: assessment of its ability to scavenge peroxynitrite.
abstract: The superoxide radical (O.2-) and nitric oxide (NO.) combine very rapidly to form peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a reactive tissue damaging nitrogen species thought to be involved in the pathology of several chronic diseases. The natural product ergothioneine protects against the nitration of tyrosine and the inactivation of alpha 1-antiproteinase by ONOO-. Ergothioneine merits further investigation as a biological and therapeutic antioxidant agent.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Group, University of London King's College, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Aruoma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: England
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halliwell
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004880:Ergothioneine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009566:Nitrates; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D014443:Tyrosine; D004880:Ergothioneine