Ergothioneine Market is segmented By Type (Chemical synthesis Method, Fermentation Method, Other), By Application (Medical Industry, Food Industry, Cosmetics Industry), By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031.
Market Overview
Ergothioneine market was worth USD 29.6 Million in 2022; it is projected to reach USD 368.2 Million by 2030, with a CAGR of 38.1% within the forecast period (2024-2031).
Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid sourced from cyanobacteria such as Actinomycetales and non-yeast fungi such as mushrooms. Humans acquire Ergothioneine primarily through food, accumulating within the red blood cells, bone marrow, liver, kidney, bodily fluids and eyes. Ergothioneine has been approved by major countries such as U.S. and E.U. countries as an additive in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
Ergothioneine is used as an antioxidant compound in medications for type 2 diabetes patients. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory additive in various pharmaceuticals. Anti-aging creams and other types of cosmetics also utilize Ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is also being developed as an all-natural preservative, making it an attractive alternative to traditional chemical-based preservatives.
Market Scope
| Metrics | Details |
| Market CAGR | 36.2% |
| Segments Covered | By Type, By Application, and By Region |
| Report Insights Covered | Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, and Other key insights. |
| Fastest Growing Region | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market Share | North America |
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Market Trends
Growing research into the effectiveness of Ergothioneine in treating various diseases is a major driver for the global market.
Growing research into the effectiveness of Ergothioneine in treating various diseases is a major driver for the global market
Research is being carried out into the effect of Ergothioneine on various physiological functions of the human body. Due to diet, Ergothioneine accumulates in the body and may play important physiological roles in human health and development and possibly in disease prevention and treatment. Evidence from a 20-year-long study linking changes in blood metabolites with cardiometabolic diseases in 3236 subjects suggests that Ergothioneine may impact cardiovascular health. Out of 112 metabolites studied, higher blood Ergothioneine was associated with a lower risk of cardiometabolic disease and mortality, regardless of age, gender, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, alcohol intake, or smoking status.
Furthermore, vascular endothelial dysfunction causes various cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, chronic heart failure, coronary artery disease and diabetes. The protection of vascular endothelium is one major underlying mechanism for evaluating the benefits of Ergothioneine for the cardiovascular system.
High cost and variation in the quality of raw material create a huge challenging atmosphere for the growth of Ergothioneine
Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid currently researched for various medical applications. It is an emerging field with enormous potential in various industries. Ergothioneine is majorly sourced from cyanobacteria and fungi such as mushrooms. Since the raw materials for Ergothioneine are sourced from natural sources, the quality varies widely depending upon the source.
Various factors, such as climatic and soil conditions, can severely affect the quality of the raw materials. Furthermore, drought conditions and abnormal weather events can sometimes destroy fungi, reducing the supply of raw materials. Furthermore, the fungi are initially processed manually. Since the manual process, base material production remains low, keeping prices high.
The high variation in the quality of raw materials complicates the Ergothioneine-producing operations. Some fungi might have deteriorated and may not be suitable for Ergothioneine extraction. Thus, more raw material is required to produce Ergothioneine, increasing production costs and lowering prices. The high costs involved in the production and the wide difference in the quality of raw materials are key challenges to the growth of the global Ergothioneine market.
COVID-19 Impact on Ergothioneine Market
The global Ergothioneine market experienced setbacks in 2020 owing to COVID-19's impact. Governments globally imposed strict lockdowns and other kinds of movement restrictions of varying durations starting from March 2020 to curb the spread of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdowns and other forms of movement restrictions brought a complete halt to construction and manufacturing activities, barring essential services.
The lockdowns have caused disruptions to the production of synthetic Ergothioneine and its derivatives, which are produced on a larger scale across the globe using bio-reactors and industrial fermentation methods. The pandemic's demand for Ergothioneine and its formulations remained stable, especially within the food processing and pharmaceutical industries. However, demand from the cosmetic industry experienced a decline due to consumers' reduced spending on cosmetics during the pandemic.
Market Segmentation Analysis
The global Ergothioneine market is segmented in type, application and region.
Due to increased productivity, safer production procedure and lower cost, microbial fermentation has gotten much attention
The global Ergothioneine market is segmented into the type: chemical synthesis method, fermentation method and others. The fermentation method dominates the market of the mentioned type. The sulfur-containing histidine derivative Ergothioneine (EGT) was initially found in ergot fungus in 1909. It has two tautomeric structures, thione and thiol; however, it mostly occurs as thione at physiological pH. EGT is a potent antioxidant, a good scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a lipid peroxide inhibitor. It has been related to treating cancer, inflammation, depression and neurological illnesses.
A fermentation production method has been developed using a microorganism overexpressing Ergothioneine biosynthesis genes or a microorganism with Ergothioneine-producing ability in which the histidine ammonia-lyase activity or the expression of the histidine ammonia-lyase gene is reduced or eliminated.
Traditional methods were inefficient, making large-scale production impossible to fulfill market demand. As a result, because harmful chemicals are used less in alternative fermentative production, it may have reduced production costs and a higher sustainability profile. The rapid advancement of synthetic biology has pushed research into the manufacture of EGT through microbial fermentation.
Because of its increased productivity, safer production procedure and lower cost, microbial fermentation has gotten much attention. Bacteria, fungi, yeast, cyanobacteria, actinomycetes and plants can produce EGT.
Market Geographical Share
Due to rising research activities and growing government funding in Europe, the market for Ergothioneine is expected to grow in the forecast period
Europe holds a significant market share of the global Ergothioneine market. It is expected to grow more due to rising research activities and regional government funding.
For instance, in 2019, The European Research Council (ERC) granted money to the Engineering of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the production of L-(+)-Ergothioneine project as part of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation initiative (grant agreement No 757384). The Novo Nordisk Foundation contributed to the project (grant number NNF10CC1016517). The mentioned work has also benefited from funding from an Erasmus+ grant.
Furthermore, the rising support of European regulatory bodies to improve the demand for Ergothioneine in the region is another major factor adding value to product growth in the region. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved the usage of Ergothioneine as a supplement in pregnant and breastfeeding women, babies and children due to the lack of overt effects and unavailability of potential nutritional benefits. More research is needed to determine whether Ergothioneine (ET) is useful or important for human development. Whether supplementation in newborns (e.g., in infant formulae, even though many formulas are based on cow's milk and already include some ET) is beneficial.
Market Companies and Competitive Landscape
The global Ergothioneine market is highly competitive with local and global key players. The key players contributing to the market's growth are Mironova Labs, Inc., Merck KGaA, Blue California, Aktin Chemicals Inc, Xi'an Saibang Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Bloomage Bioactive, Sinonocy, Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc., Jiangyin Healthway International Trade Co., Ltd and Taizhou Tianhong Biochemistry Technology Co., Ltd., among others.
The major companies are adopting several growth strategies, such as product launches, acquisitions and collaborations, contributing to the global growth of the Ergothioneine market.
- For instance, On July 01, 2020, Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited established its subsidiary Bloomage Japan Co., Ltd. to expand its business operations in Japan. It is looking forward to increasing its customer base and expanding its product portfolio in different industries in Japan.
Blue California
Overview: Blue California is an innovative, science-based solution provider and manufacturer of clean, natural and sustainable ingredients in food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, dietary supplements, personal care and cosmetic goods. To ensure the successful commercialization of products to firms with global reach, the company develops unique materials and new clean, green production techniques.
Blue California has a great reputation of 25 years for creating value in these broad natural products and nature-inspired businesses. The company's business segments include specialty ingredients, microencapsulation, flavors & fragrances, among others.
Product Portfolio: ErgoActive: The product is an L-Ergothioneine supplement that promotes cognition and telomere length and prevents frailty due to stress.
Key Development
- On July 15, 2020, Blue California submitted a patent on using Ergothioneine as a supplement for oxidative stress-related health problems, including COVID-19.
The global Ergothioneine market report would provide approximately 53 market data tables, 42 figures and 211 pages.
