An organoselenium drug with antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging capacity in vitro

Organoselenum compounds have been reported to have a wide range of pharmacological properties. Amine-based diselenide, (Z)-N-(4-methylbenzylidene)-1-(2-((2-(1-((E)-4-methyl benzylideneamino)ethyl)phenyl)diselanyl)phenyl)ethanamine ethyl)phenyl) diselanyl) phenyl) ethylimino) methyl)phenol (compound A), and diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity. Compound A and (PhSe)2 were tested against sodium nitroprusside (SNP)- and Fe(II)-induced thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) in rat brain homogenates. The radical scavenging activity was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay. Both compounds A and (PhSe)2 decreased Fe(II)- and SNP-stimulated TBARS production in rat brain homogenates. Compound A exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in the radical scavenging assay, although (PhSe)2, the simplest of the diaryl diselenide, presented no activity. In conclusion, the results of the present investigation indicated that compound A and (PhSe)2 had preventive effects against SNP- and Fe(II)-induced oxidative stress in rat brain homogenates. The amine group in the organic moiety dramatically changed the potency of amine-based diselenide.

Isolation and characterization of a degradation product of deflazacort

Deflazacort (DFZ) is an oxazoline derivative of prednisolone with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity. The aim of this study was to investigate and to identify the main degradation product of DFZ, and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of both DFZ and its major degradation product (namely DDP1). DFZ was subjected to alkaline and acid degradation. In 0.1 N NaOH, DFZ was immediately degraded and 99.0% of product DDP1 was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC method was ideal to separate the primary and other minor degradation products and was carried out using C18 column, mobile phase consisting of water: acetonitrile: (60:40, v/v) with flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and detection at 244 nm. DDP1 was isolated and identified as 21-hydroxy deflazacort (21-OH-DFZ) by NMR, IR and LCMS. The in vivo pharmacological assays showed that both DFZ as 21-OH-DFZ are active in in vivo and in vitro inflammatory models, but 21-OH-DFZ is more potent than DFZ.

Hydroxyl containing seleno-imine compound exhibits improved anti-oxidant potential and does not inhibit thiol-containing enzymes

Design and synthesis of organoselenium compounds with high thiol peroxidase (TPx) and low thiol oxidase (TOx) activities have been a difficult task and remains a synthetic-activity relationship dilemma. In this regard we are reporting for the first time a detail experimental data (both in vitro and in vivo) about the anti-oxidant and toxicological profile of an Imine (-N) containing organoselenium compound (Compound A). The TPx activity of Compound A was significantly higher than diphenyl diselenide (DPDS). Both Compound A and DPDS protected sodium nitropruside (SNP) induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) production in rats tissue homogenate with significantly higher activity observed for Compound A than DPDS (p<0.05). The Compound A also exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. This study reveals that an imine group close to selenium atom drastically enhances the catalytic activities in the aromatic thiol (PhSH) assay systems. The oxidation of biologically significant thiols reflects the toxicity of the compounds. However, the present data showed that treatment with Compound A at 0, 10, 25 or 50mg/kg was not associated with mortality or body weight loss. Similarly it did not inhibit α-ALA-D and Na(+1)/K(+1) ATPase (sulfhydryl group containing enzymes) activities after acute oral treatment; rather it enhanced non-protein thiols (NPSH) concentration. The Compound A did not cause any oxidative stress as measured by TBARS production in rat's tissue preparation. Our data also indicate that exposure to Compound A did not affect plasma transaminase activities or levels of urea and creatinine in rats. Ascorbic acid is always considered a marker of oxidative stress and the reduction of its content may indicate an increase in oxidative stress. Treatment with Compound A did not alter Ascorbic acid levels in rats. The conducted in vitro and in vivo tests show the versatile therapeutic potential of this compound in the area of free radical induced damages, will undoubtedly enhance our understanding of the mechanism of model compounds and may ultimately yield insights that result in improved GPx mimics.