Catechins and Selenium Species-How They React with Each Other.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Materials Science
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Selenium (Se) and tea infusions possess antioxidant properties with potentially complementary actions.
• Se-enriched tea is explored as a functional beverage and a supplement to mitigate Se deficiency.
• Understanding interactions between tea catechins and selenium species is crucial for developing Se-enriched products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interactions between tea catechins and various selenium species.
• To assess the stability of selenium species in aqueous solutions and in the presence of catechins.
• To explore the potential for forming selenonanoparticles (SeNPs) from these interactions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of reagent concentration changes in binary mixtures of catechins and selenium species.
• Evaluation of the stability of selenium species in aqueous solutions and with tea infusions.
• UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy to detect and characterize selenonanoparticle formation.

Main Results:

• Selenium species showed instability in standard solutions and when mixed with catechins, with selenocystine being the most unstable.
• UV-Vis spectra confirmed the formation of selenonanoparticles (SeNPs) in mixtures of catechins and selenite.
• SeNPs with diameters under 100 nm were formed when selenite and selenomethionine were added to tea infusions.

Conclusions:

• Tea catechins interact with selenium species, influencing their stability and promoting the formation of SeNPs.
• The formation of small-diameter SeNPs in tea infusions presents an advantage for potential biomedical applications.
• This study highlights the feasibility of using tea as a matrix for producing functional Se-enriched beverages and nanoparticles.