Analytical Problems in Separation of Selenomethionine and Its Oxidative Product in HILIC HPLC

Catechins and Selenium Species-How They React with Each Other

The combination of selenium and tea infusion, both with antioxidant properties, has potentially complementary mechanisms of action. Se-enriched tea has been considered as a possible Se supplement and a functional beverage to reduce the health risk of Se deficiency. This work investigated the interactions between plant catechins present in tea infusions and selenium species based on changes in the concentration of both reagents, their stability in aqueous solutions, and the possibilities of selenonanoparticles (SeNPs) formation. Selenium species exhibited instability both alone in their standard solutions and in the presence of studied catechins; selenocystine appeared as the most unstable. The recorded UV-Vis absorption spectra indicated the formation of SeNPs in the binary mixtures of catechins and selenite. SeNPs have also formed with diameters smaller than 100 nm when selenite and selenomethionine were added to tea infusions. This is an advantage from the point of view of potential medical applications.

A Review of Plant Selenium-Enriched Proteins/Peptides: Extraction, Detection, Bioavailability, and Effects of Processing

As an essential trace element in the human body, selenium (Se) has various physiological activities, such as antioxidant and anticancer activity. Selenium-enriched proteins/peptides (SePs/SePPs) are the primary forms of Se in plants and animals, and they are the vital carriers of its physiological activities. On the basis of current research, this review systematically describes the extraction methods (aqueous, alkaline, enzymatic, auxiliary, etc.) and detection methods (HPLC-MS/MS, GC-ICP-MS, etc.) for SePs/SePPs in plants. Their bioavailability and bioactivity, and the effect of processing are also included. Our review provides a comprehensive understanding and theoretical guidance for the utilization of selenium-enriched proteins/peptides.

Preparative isolation of maltol glycoside from Dianthus superbus and its anti-inflammatory activity in vitro

Dianthus superbus is a traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly utilized as a treatment for inflammation, pain, and immunological conditions. In this study, an anti-inflammatory maltol glycoside derived from Dianthus superbus was isolated for the first time via medium and high-pressure liquid chromatography, and at the same time, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of this maltol glycoside was preliminarily explored. Initially, crude samples of Dianthus superbus were preprocessed via MCI GEL® CHP20P and Spherical C18 medium-pressure chromatography, under the guidance of evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Fr44 was found to be the target fraction, and it was further isolated via two-dimensional reversed-phase/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, yielding > 95% pure and was identified as tunicoside B. MTT assay, nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase were used to evaluate the effects of tunicoside B on murine macrophage Raw264.7 by nitric oxide synthase assay kit, molecular docking, and western blotting. The results showed that tunicoside B did not affect the viability of cells and exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity. As far as we know, this is the first report of tunicoside B from Dianthus superbus and the first study on the anti-inflammatory activity of tunicoside B. More importantly, the approach established in this study is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the separation and pharmacological activity study of maltol glycosides from other natural products.