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Ergothioneine, a New Acrolein Scavenger at Elevated Temperature
Yating Gu1, Shujingwen Wang1, Bo Si2
1Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2# Xuelin Road, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China.
Ergothioneine (EGT), found in mushrooms, effectively traps acrolein (ACR), a harmful compound linked to chronic diseases. EGT, especially with GABA and GMP, shows significant potential for capturing ACR in baked goods.
Area of Science:
- Food Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Acrolein (ACR) is a reactive aldehyde damaging proteins and DNA, contributing to chronic diseases.
- Edible mushrooms are a rich source of ergothioneine (EGT), a potential antioxidant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ergothioneine's (EGT) capacity to trap acrolein (ACR).
- To explore the synergistic effects of EGT with GABA and GMP on ACR trapping.
- To evaluate the efficacy of EGT-containing mushrooms in trapping ACR during baking.
Main Methods:
- Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for reaction pathway analysis.
- High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for adduct structure elucidation.
- Chou-Talalay methods to quantify synergistic effects of EGT, GABA, and GMP.
Main Results:
- EGT successfully traps ACR, forming EGT-ACR-1 and EGT-ACR-2 adducts.
- GABA and GMP significantly enhance EGT's ACR trapping ability, demonstrating synergistic effects.
- Mushrooms like Boletus eduli and Volvariella volvacea effectively trap ACR generated during baking.
Conclusions:
- Ergothioneine (EGT) is a potent acrolein (ACR) capturer, both as a pure compound and when derived from mushrooms.
- Combinations of EGT with GABA and GMP amplify ACR trapping efficacy.
- Mushroom-derived EGT offers a promising natural strategy for reducing ACR in baked foods.
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