Beena G. Singh

Reactions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with curcumin analogues: Structure–activity relationship

Abstract Three curcumin analogues viz., bisdemethoxy curcumin, monodemethoxy curcumin, and dimethoxycurcumin that differ at the phenolic substitution were synthesized. These compounds have been subjected for free radical reactions with DPPH radicals, superoxide radicals (O2•−), singlet oxygen (1O2) and peroxyl radicals (CCl3O2•) and the bimolecular rate constants were determined. The DPPH radical reactions were followed by stopped-flow spectrometer, 1O2 reactions by transient luminescence spectrometer, and CCl3O2• reactions using pulse radiolysis technique. The rate constants indicate that the presence of o-methoxy phenolic OH increases its reactivity with DPPH and CCl3O2•, while for molecules lacking phenolic OH, this reaction is very sluggish. Reaction of O2•− and 1O2 with curcumin analogues takes place preferably at β-diketone moiety. The studies thus suggested that both phenolic OH and the β-diketone moiety of curcumin are involved in neutralizing the free radicals and their relative scavenging ability depends on the nature of the free radicals.

Effect of functional groups on antioxidant properties of substituted selenoethers

Abstract Selenoethers attached to functional groups through propyl chain viz., bis(3-carboxypropyl)selenide (SeBA), bis(3-hydroxypropyl)selenide (SePOH) and bis(3-aminopropyl)selenide dihydrochloride (SePAm), have been examined for their ability to inhibit peroxyl radical mediated DNA damage, peroxyl radical scavenging ability and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) like activity. The DNA damage was monitored by gel electrophoresis, bimolecular rate constants for scavenging of model peroxyl radical were determined by pulse radiolysis and the GPx activity was followed by their ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide in the presence of glutathione utilizing NADPH decay and HPLC analysis. Among these compounds, SeBA showed maximum DNA protecting activity and it was also the most efficient in scavenging peroxyl radicals with the highest GPx mimicking activity. Quantum chemical calculations confirmed that SeBA with the highest energy level of HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) is the easiest to undergo oxidation and therefore exhibits better radical scavenging, GPx mimicking and DNA protecting activity than SePOH or SePAm.

Radical Cations of Aromatic Selenium Compounds: Role of Se···X Nonbonding Interactions

Selenium centered radical cations in aliphatic selenium compounds are stabilized by formation of two-center-three electron (2c-3e) hemi bonds either with nearby heteroatoms forming monomer radicals or with selenium atoms of the parent molecules forming dimer radicals. Such radicals in aromatic selenium compounds would generally be stabilized as monomers by the delocalization of the spin density along the aromatic ring. To test the assumption if aromatic selenides having Se···X nonbonding interactions can show different types of radical cations, we have performed pulse radiolysis studies of three structurally related aromatic selenium compounds and the results have been substantiated with cyclic voltammetry and quantum chemical calculations. The three aromatic selenium compounds have functional groups like -CH2N(CH3)2 (1), -CH2OH (2), and -CH3 (3) at ortho position to the -SeCH3 moiety. The energy of Se···X nonbonding interactions (E(nb)) for these compounds is in the order 1 (Se···N) > 2 (Se···O) > 3 (Se···H). Radical cations, 1(•+), 2(•+) and 3(•+) were produced by the one-electron oxidation of 1, 2 and 3 by radiolytically generated (•)OH and Br2(•-) radicals. Results on transient spectra, lifetime, and secondary reactions of 1(•+), 2(•+), and 3(•+) indicated that 1(•+) shows a significantly different absorption spectrum, longer lifetime, and less oxidizing power compared to those of 2(•+) or 3(•+). Quantum chemical calculations suggested that 1(•+) is stabilized by the formation of a 2c-3e bond between Se and N atoms, whereas 2(•+) and 3(•+) acquire stability through the delocalization of the spin density on the aromatic ring. These results provide evidence for the first time that stronger nonbonding interactions between Se···N in the ground state, facilitate the formation of stabilized radical cations, which can significantly influence the redox chemistry and the biological activity of aromatic selenium compounds.

Anti-hemolytic and Peroxyl Radical Scavenging Activity of Organoselenium Compounds: An In Vitro Study

Selenium-containing amino acids, selenocystine (CysSeSeCys), methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), and selenomethionine (SeMet) have been examined for anti-hemolytic and peroxyl radical scavenging ability. Effect of these compounds on membrane lipid peroxidation, release of hemoglobin, and loss of intracellular K+ ion as a consequence of peroxyl radicals-induced oxidation of human red blood cells were used to evaluate their anti-hemolytic ability. The peroxyl radicals were generated from thermal degradation of 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride. Significant delay (teff) was observed in oxidative damage in the presence of the selenium compounds. From the IC50 values for the inhibition of hemolysis, lipid peroxidation, and K+ ion leakage, the relative anti-hemolytic ability of the compounds were found to be in the order of CysSeSeCys > MeSeCys > SeMet. The anti-hemolytic abilities of the compounds, when compared with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) under identical experimental conditions, were found to be better than Na2SeO3. Relative rate constants estimated for the reaction of MeSeCys and SeMet with peroxyl radicals by competition kinetics using ABTS2− as a reference confirmed that all the compounds are efficient peroxyl radical scavengers. Comparison of the GPx-like activity of these compounds, by NADPH–GSH reductase coupled assay, indicated that CysSeSeCys exhibits the highest activity. Based on these results, it is concluded that among the compounds examined, CysSeSeCys, possessing the ability to reduce peroxyl radicals and hydroperoxides showed efficient anti-hemolytic activity.

A water‐soluble selenoxide reagent as a useful probe for the reactivity and folding of polythiol peptides

A water‐soluble selenoxide (DHSox) having a five‐membered ring structure enables rapid and selective conversion of cysteinyl SH groups in a polypeptide chain into SS bonds in a wide pH and temperature range. It was previously demonstrated that the second‐order rate constants for the SS formation with DHSox would be proportional to the number of the free SH groups present in the substrate if there is no steric congestion around the SH groups. In the present study, kinetics of the SS formation with DHSox was extensively studied at pH 4–10 and 25 °C by using reduced ribonuclease A, recombinant hirudin variant (CX‐397), insulin A‐ and B‐chains, and relaxin A‐chain, which have two to eight cysteine residues, as polythiol substrates. The obtained rate constants showed stochastic SS formation behaviors under most conditions. However, the rate constants for CX‐397 at pH 8.0 and 10.0 were not proportional to the number of the free SH groups, suggesting that the SS intermediate ensembles possess densely packed structures under weakly basic conditions. The high two‐electron redox potential of DHSox (375 mV at 25 °C) compared to l‐cystine supported the high ability of DHSox for SS formation in a polypeptide chain. Interestingly, the rate constants of the SS formation jumped up at a pH around the pK a value of the cysteinyl SH groups. The SS formation velocity was slightly decreased by addition of a denaturant due probably to the interaction between the denaturant and the peptide. The stochastic behaviors as well as the absolute values of the second‐order rate constants in comparison to dithiothreitol (DTTred) are useful to probe the chemical reactivity and conformation, hence the folding, of polypeptide chains.

Effect of alkyl chain length on one-electron oxidation of bis(alkyl carboxylic acid) selenides: implication on their antioxidant ability

One-electron redox reactions of three bis(alkyl carboxylic acid) selenide (SeC) derivatives viz., seleno bis(butanoic acid) (SeBA), seleno bis(propanoic acid) (SePA) and seleno bis(ethanoic acid) (SeEA), were carried out in aqueous solutions using nanosecond pulse radiolysis and the resultant transients were detected by absorption spectroscopy. SeC reacted with ˙OH radicals to form hydroxyl selenouranyl radicals (Se∴OH) which subsequently gave different transient species, like the selenium centered radical cation (SeC˙+), dimer radical cation (Se∴Se)+, or a selenium-carboxyl oxygen stabilized monomer radical (Se∴O). The relative yield of these transient species depended on pH, concentration of SeC and position of the carboxylate functional group. SeEA and SeBA gave exclusively (Se∴Se)+ absorbing at 490 nm, while in the case of SePA, along with (Se∴Se)+, (Se∴O) was also formed. The stability of (Se∴Se)+ was estimated in terms of the equilibrium constant and was in the order SeBA > SeEA > SePA. Secondary electron transfer reactions of the transients were performed with 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), thionine and methyl viologen. The study showed that SeC˙+ undergoes decarboxylation with the formation of the corresponding α-(alkylseleno)alkyl radical and the yield of CO2 formed was in the order SeEA < SeBA < SePA. The formation of a stabilised monomer radical cation in SePA is responsible for its lower yield of CO2 and the same is reflected in its higher free radical scavenging antioxidant activity, established by comparing the rate constants for scavenging of peroxyl radicals.

Fatty acid conjugates of water-soluble (±)-trans-Selenolane-3,4-diol: effects of alkyl chain length on the antioxidant capacity.

Fatty acid monoesters of the title compound (DHSred), of variable carbon chain length (propionate, laurate, myristate, palmitate, and stearate), were synthesized, and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated by means of a lipid peroxidation assay with lecithin/cholesterol liposomes. The selenides with long alkyl chains exhibited significant antioxidant activity (IC50=9–34 μM) against accumulation of lipid hydroperoxide. Incorporation of the myristate into the liposome was ≈50 % by EPMA analysis. Intermediacy of the selenoxide was examined by NMR. In addition, enhancement of interfacial redox catalytic activity was observed for the myristate, but not for PhSeSePh and edaravone, in a PhCl/H2O biphasic peroxidation assay. These results suggested that a combination of a hydrophilic selenide moiety as a redox center with a long alkyl chain is an effective approach to selenium antioxidants with interfacial glutathione‐peroxidase‐like (GPx‐like) activity. The activity can be controlled by the alkyl chain length.

Troxerutin, a natural flavonoid binds to DNA minor groove and enhances cancer cell killing in response to radiation.

Troxerutin, a flavonoid best known for its radioprotective and antioxidant properties is of considerable interest of study due to its broad pharmacological activities. The present study on troxerutin highlights its abilities to bind DNA and enhance cancer cell killing in response to radiation. Troxerutin showed strong binding with calf thymus DNA in vitro. Troxerutin-DNA interaction was confirmed by CD spectropolarimetry. The mode of binding of troxerutin to DNA was assessed by competing troxerutin with EtBr or DAPI, known DNA intercalator and a minor groove binder, respectively. DAPI fluorescence was drastically reduced with linear increase in troxerutin concentration suggesting possible binding of troxerutin to DNA minor groove. Further, computational studies of docking of troxerutin molecule on mammalian DNA also indicated possible troxerutin-DNA interaction at minor groove of DNA. Troxerutin was found to mainly localize in the nucleus of prostate cancer cells. It induced cytotoxicity in radioresistant (DU145) and sensitive (PC3) prostate cancer cells. When troxerutin pre-treated DU145 and PC3 cells were exposed to γ-radiation, cytotoxicity as estimated by MTT assay, was found to be further enhanced. In addition, the % subG1 population detected by propidium iodide staining also showed similar response when combined with radiation. A similar trend was observed in terms of ROS generation and DNA damage in DU145 cells when troxerutin and radiation were combined. DNA binding at minor groove by troxerutin may have contributed to strand breaks leading to increased radiation induced cell death.

Free radical reactions of isoxazole and pyrazole derivatives of hispolon: Kinetics correlated with molecular descriptors

Abstract Hispolon (HS), a natural polyphenol found in medicinal mushrooms, and its isoxazole (HI) and pyrazole (HP) derivatives have been examined for free radical reactions and in vitro antioxidant activity. Reaction of these compounds with one-electron oxidant, azide radicals () and trichloromethyl peroxyl radicals (), model peroxyl radicals, studied by nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique, indicated formation of phenoxyl radicals absorbing at 420 nm with half life of few hundred microseconds (μs). The formation of phenoxyl radicals confirmed that the phenolic OH is the active centre for free radical reactions. Rate constant for the reaction of these radicals with these compounds were in the order kHI ≅ kHP > kHS. Further the compounds were examined for their ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in model membranes and also for the scavenging of 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide () radicals. The results suggested that HP and HI are less efficient than HS towards these radical reactions. Quantum chemical calculations were performed on these compounds to understand the mechanism of reaction with different radicals. Lower values of adiabatic ionization potential (AIP) and elevated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) for HI and HP compared with HS controlled their activity towards and radicals, whereas the contribution of overall anion concentration was responsible for higher activity of HS for DPPH, , and lipid peroxyl radical. The results confirm the role of different structural moieties on the antioxidant activity of hispolon derivatives.

Pulse radiolysis studies of 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole derivatives of selenoethers.

One electron redox reaction of two asymmetric 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole derivatives of selenoethers attached to ethanoic acid (DPSeEA) and propionic acid (DPSePA) were studied by pulse radiolysis technique using transient absorption detection. The reaction of the hydroxyl ((•)OH) radical with DPSeEA or DPSePA at pH 7 produced transients absorbing at 500 nm and at 300 nm, respectively. The absorbance at 500 nm increased with increasing parent concentration indicating formation of dimer radical cations. From the absorbance changes, the equilibrium constants for the formation of dimer radical cation of DPSeEA and DPSePA were estimated as 2020 and 1608 M(-1), respectively. The rate constants at pH 7 for the reaction of the (•)OH radical with DPSeEA and DPSePA were determined to be 9.6 × 10(9) and 1.4 × 10(10) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. The dimer radical cation of DPSeEA and DPSePA decayed by first order kinetics with a rate constant of 2.8 × 10(4) and 5.5 × 10(3) s(-1), respectively. The yield of radical cations of DPSeEA and DPSePA were estimated from the secondary electron transfer reaction, which corresponds to 38% and 48% of (•)OH radical yield, respectively. Some fraction of monomer radical cation undergoes decarboxylation reaction, and the yield of decarboxylation was 25% and 20% for DPSeEA and DPSePA, respectively. These results have implication in understanding their antioxidant activity. The reaction of trichloromethyl peroxyl radical, glutathione, and ascorbic acid further support their antioxidant behavior.