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.