Applied research note: Pilot demonstration of feasibility of Neurospora crassa (rco-3; csp-2) mycelium feeding to increase L-ergothioneine in boiled egg white

This study explores the use of liquid chromatogram-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography column (HILIC) to identify traces of water soluble antioxidants in chicken eggs. L-ergothioneine (EGT) was subsequently selected as the primary target molecule for LC-MS quantitative analysis due to the availability of EGT-producing fungal strains and an established culturing method for these strains. The amount of L-EGT produced by wild-type and a mutant strain with precocious conidiation (sporulation) in shaken liquid culture was examined. The rco 3 mutant strain had elevated amounts of L-EGT and was used for animal feeding studies. Hens were fed with N. crassa mycelium powder, pure L-EGT, and un supplemented hen feed as control; chicken eggs were harvested daily over two weeks for analysis. The results indicated that feeding hens with freeze-dried mycelium powder from the mutant strain significantly increased the concentration of L-EGT in chicken eggs. Bioaccumulation of L-EGT in boiled chicken egg white was also observed over time. Supplying chickens with fed the control diet or with supplementation with pure L EGT compound did not display the same effect. These findings suggest that L-EGT in Neurospora mycelium has the potential to be an effective dietary supplement for improving L-EGT intake in animals. Further studies on the antioxidant/protective effect of L-EGT in plant and animal tissues are needed to shed light on the role of L-EGT in promoting health and longevity. This investigation serves as a proof of concept for the utilization of LC-MS in detecting and quantifying bioactive compounds in chicken egg whites.