Mushrooms may alleviate features of preeclampsia

A study published in the journal Hypertension suggests that L-ergothioneine (ERG), an amino acid most commonly found in mushrooms, could help alleviate some features of preeclampsia, a disorder of pregnancy characterized by the onset of high blood pressure and often a significant amount of protein in the urine.

Research suggests that preeclampsia may be caused by substances released from the placenta that disrupt normal biological processes in the mother. In particular, disruption of mitochondrial function can lead to exaggerated oxidative stress. ERG is a potent and effective mitochondrial antioxidant.

In a rat model, researchers from the University College Cork (UCC), the INFANT Centre at UCC, and the University of Liverpool, have shown that a natural diet‐derived substance, L-ergothioneine, can alleviate some of the features of this condition.

“We wanted to see if this natural antioxidant could ameliorate some of the biological features of preeclampsia using our model of disease,” said Cathal McCarthy at UCC, leader of this research, in a university press release. “Our research shows that treating rats with preeclampsia with the natural antioxidant L-ergothioneine reduced blood pressure, prevented fetal growth restriction, and dampened production of the damaging substances released from the placenta during preeclampsia.”

“Given its favorable safety profile, its long half-life, and resistance to auto-oxidation and multiple mechanisms of action, not least its ability to regulate mitochondrial function, further studies are needed to explicitly define the protective mechanisms of ERG in treating preeclampsia in humans,” concluded the researchers.

Study