Anti-ageing supplements
Capsules and sachets, often paired with NAD⁺ precursors or polyphenols. Dosed in milligrams, which makes lot-to-lot assay consistency the practical concern.
Fermented actives · Thione antioxidant
L-Ergothioneine
A histidine-derived thione that survives what ordinary antioxidants do not — supplied at ≥99%, with its fermentation origin and optical purity documented.
Also known as EGT · ergothioneine · thioneine · 2-mercaptohistidine betaine
Overview
What L-ergothioneine is
L-Ergothioneine is a sulphur-containing betaine of histidine, produced by fungi and some bacteria and absorbed in humans through a dedicated transporter, OCTN1. That transporter is why the molecule interests formulators working on skin and cellular ageing: it accumulates where oxidative load is high, rather than distributing evenly.
Its chemistry is the commercial argument. The thione form predominates at physiological pH and resists auto-oxidation, so ergothioneine does not readily become a pro-oxidant the way a free thiol can. It is also stable enough to survive processing that would destroy ascorbate — which is why it appears in heat-processed formats as well as cold-filled serums.
Eastling supplies fermentation-derived L-ergothioneine as a white to pale cream powder at ≥99% by HPLC. Fermented and synthetic material are priced differently and carry different documentation, so the origin is stated on the specification sheet rather than left to inference.
- Fermentation-derived, with the route stated on the specification
- Assay ≥ 99% by HPLC, L-form confirmed by optical rotation
- Thione form — resistant to auto-oxidation at physiological pH
- From 1 g samples to commercial lots
Identity
The record.
The identifiers your specification sheet, customs paperwork and product label all have to agree on. Where a number depends on the salt form, both are given.
- Chemical name
- 2-Mercapto-N,N,N-trimethyl-L-histidine betaine
- Common name
- Ergothioneine; EGT; thioneine
- CAS number
- 497-30-3
- Molecular formula
- C₉H₁₅N₃O₂S
- Molecular weight
- 229.30 g/mol
- INCI name
- Ergothioneine
- Appearance
- White to pale cream powder
- Solubility
- Soluble in water; practically insoluble in non-polar solvents
- HS code
- 2930.90 — indicative, confirmed per shipment
- Storage
- 2–8 °C, sealed, protected from light
HS codes are indicative only. Final classification is confirmed per shipment with your customs broker.
Manufacture
How it is made.
Ergothioneine is a fermentation product by nature; the alternative is a multi-step synthesis that costs more and leaves a different impurity profile.
- 01
Submerged fermentation
A fungal or bacterial strain that overproduces ergothioneine is grown in submerged culture — the same biology that puts the molecule in mushrooms.
- 02
Harvest and extraction
Biomass is separated and the product extracted into aqueous phase; the extraction step determines how much of the coloured fraction carries through.
- 03
Purification
Chromatographic purification removes amino acids, betaines and pigment, and separates the L-form from any D-enantiomer.
- 04
Crystallisation and drying
Crystallisation gives the white to pale cream powder; drying sets water content and, with it, the colour stability in storage.
Applications
Where it is used.
Ergothioneine is used at low inclusion levels, so specification consistency matters more than tonnage.
Skin care
Serums and creams at low percentages. Heat and light sensitivity means late-stage addition and an opaque, airless pack.
Food & beverage
Oxidative stability in functional foods and beverages, subject to local novel-food status — which differs sharply between markets.
Specification
Release criteria.
The written limits we release against, with the method used to test each one. Batch results for the lot you receive are stated on its certificate of analysis.
| Parameter | Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to pale cream powder | Visual |
| Assay | ≥ 99.0% | HPLC-UV |
| Identity | Consistent with reference | LC–MS, ¹H NMR |
| Optical purity (L-form) | ≥ 99.0% of total | Chiral HPLC / polarimetry |
| Related substances | Total ≤ 1.0% | HPLC |
| Water content | ≤ 0.5% | Karl Fischer |
| Heavy metals | ≤ 10 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Arsenic | ≤ 1 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Total plate count | ≤ 1,000 cfu/g | Plate count |
| Yeast & mould | ≤ 100 cfu/g | Plate count |
| E. coli / Salmonella | Absent | Enrichment |
| Shelf life | 24 months from manufacture, unopened | Stability programme |
Tighter limits — for example a lower heavy-metal ceiling or a residual-solvent panel — can be quoted against your own specification wording.
Certificate
Reading the certificate.
Two things are worth checking before the price: where the molecule came from, and whether it is the L-form.
Fermented or synthetic
The route changes the impurity profile and the regulatory story — fermented material carries a non-GMO question, synthetic material carries a solvent-residue question. Our COA names the route; a supplier who will not is usually selling whichever was cheaper that month.
Optical purity is not optional
D-ergothioneine is not the transported form. Assay by HPLC will happily include both enantiomers unless the method separates them. We report optical purity separately.
Colour predicts the drying step
A cream or tan cast usually means residual moisture or a short purification. It is cosmetic in supplement capsules and unacceptable in a white serum — grade the powder against your finished product, not against the COA photo.
Documentation & packaging
What ships with it.
The paperwork travels with the goods. If your QA team needs an extra declaration, ask before the order is released — some are issued per production lot and cannot be retrofitted.
Certificate of analysis
Assay, optical purity, related substances, water, heavy metals and microbiological results, per lot.
Analytical data
HPLC chromatogram including the enantiomer separation, plus MS identity.
Origin statement
Fermentation route and country of origin, issued against the production lot — required by several markets for novel-food dossiers.
Declarations on request
Non-GMO, allergen and TSE/BSE statements. Novel-food dossiers and safety assessments are the importer's submission; we supply the technical sections.
| Pack size | Presentation | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1–100 g | Amber glass vial | Evaluation and lab scale |
| 500 g | Foil bag, desiccant | Pilot batches |
| 1 kg | Foil bag in carton | Commercial |
| 10 kg+ | Fibre drum on request | Bulk — quoted per order |
Questions
Before you order.
The questions buyers actually ask about L-Ergothioneine. Anything not covered here, ask directly — you will get an answer from someone technical, not a template.
Is your ergothioneine fermentation-derived or synthetic?
Fermentation-derived, and the route is stated on the specification sheet. This is not a marketing detail: fermented material raises a non-GMO question in some markets, synthetic material raises a residual-solvent question, and the two are priced differently.
Why is ergothioneine so much more expensive than glutathione?
Titre and purification. Fermentation yields are low, the molecule is present at small percentages in the broth, and purification is multi-step. The cost per kilogram reflects the number of unit operations, not a premium for novelty.
Is it stable enough for a heat-processed product?
More stable than ascorbate or a free thiol, but it is still light- and heat-sensitive. Add it late, keep the finished product opaque and protected from UV, and generate your own accelerated data — raw-material stability does not predict finished-product stability.
What is the regulatory position in the EU and the US?
In the EU, L-ergothioneine has novel-food authorisation, with permitted uses and use levels set by regulation; in the US it is marketed as a dietary ingredient. Both positions are market-specific and can change. Confirm the current text with your regulatory advisor before you print a label.
Do you supply D-ergothioneine or a racemic mixture?
No. We supply the L-form, with optical purity reported. If a quotation is dramatically cheaper, ask which enantiomer and which assay method — that is usually where the difference lives.
What inclusion level should I use?
We supply the ingredient, not the formulation. Use levels are set by your formulator against your own efficacy and safety data, and in food by the permitted level in your market.
What is the minimum order and lead time?
From 1 g for evaluation. Commercial lots are typically 3–4 weeks, longer than the small molecules on this site because of fermentation scheduling. Stock availability changes; ask when you enquire.
How should it be stored?
Sealed at 2–8 °C, protected from light. The powder is not strongly hygroscopic but it discolours with light and heat exposure, so keep it in the amber vial or foil until use.
Related
Often quoted together.
Quotation
Ask for L-Ergothioneine, by the gram.
Send the quantity, the grade you need and the destination. You will get a written quotation with lead time, packaging options and the documentation set for this material.