The ergothioneine content of the blood in health and disease

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Abstract
A colorimetric method for the estimation of blood ergothioneine is given. Protein is removed with tungstomolybdic acid from the centrifugate obtained in the sulphate-tungstate precipitation of whole blood. Any uric acid present is removed with Ag precipitation and acid NaCl extraction. Color is developed with the Folin-Marenzi uric acid reagent. Glutathione and cysteine in amounts present in blood do not interfere. The ergothioneine content of normal human blood is 3-12 mgm. per 100 cc. corpuscles. This wide normal range practically covers the range of values found in diabetes, nephritis and various other pathological conditions.