Impact of Ergothioneine, Hercynine, and Histidine on Oxidative Degradation of Hyaluronan and Wound Healing

A high-molecular weight hyaluronan is oxidatively degraded by Cu(II) ions and ascorbate-the so called Weissberger biogenic oxidative system-which is one of the most potent generators of reactive oxygen species, namely (OH)-O-center dot radicals. Ergothioneine, hercynine, or histidine were loaded into chitosan/hyaluronan composite membranes to examine their effect on skin wound healing in ischemic rabbits. We also explored the ability of ergothioneine, hercynine, or histidine to inhibit hyaluronan degradation. Rotational viscometry showed that ergothioneine decreased the degree of hyaluronan radical degradation in a dose-dependent manner. While histidine was shown to be potent in scavenging (OH)-O-center dot radicals, however, hercynine was ineffective. In vivo results showed that the addition of each investigated agent to chitosan/hyaluronan membranes contributed to a more potent treatment of ischemic skin wounds in rabbits compared to untreated animals and animals treated only with chitosan/hyaluronan membranes.

Automated summary

The study found that ergothioneine can reduce the degree of hyaluronan radical degradation, while histidine has a potent effect in scavenging (OH)-O-center dot radicals. Animal experiments showed that adding ergothioneine, hercynine, or histidine to chitosan/hyaluronan membranes can more effectively treat ischemic skin wounds in rabbits.