Eur J Pharmacol. 2014 Sep 10. pii: S0014-2999(14)00649-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.09.005. [Epub ahead of print]

Antioxidant and antidepressant-like activities of semi-synthetic α-phenylseleno citronellal.

Victoria FN1, Anversa R2, Penteado F1, Castro M1, Lenardão EJ3, Savegnago L4.

• 1Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Limpa-LASOL - CCQFA-Universidade Federal de Pelotas-UFPel, P.O. Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
• 2Grupo de Pesquisa em Neurobiotecnologia-GPN, CDTec, Universidade Federal de Pelotas-UFPel, P.O. Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
• 3Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Limpa-LASOL - CCQFA-Universidade Federal de Pelotas-UFPel, P.O. Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: lenardao@ufpel.edu.br.
• 4Grupo de Pesquisa em Neurobiotecnologia-GPN, CDTec, Universidade Federal de Pelotas-UFPel, P.O. Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: luciellisavegnago@yahoo.com.br.

Abstract

In this study, the antioxidant and antidepressant-like activities of the semi-synthetic compound α-phenylseleno citronellal (PhSeCIT) and the natural terpenoid R-citronellal (CIT) were evaluated.

The biological potential of PhSeCIT and CIT was evaluated by antioxidant in vitro assays, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and linoleic acid oxidation. The compounds were also assessed by ex vivo tests to determine the acute toxicity, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-Ala-D) and Na+/K+ ATPase activities.

The antidepressant-like activity of compounds in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) was also investigated.

The results demonstrated that the addition of an organoselenium group to (R)-citronellal increased its antioxidant properties, since PhSeCIT showed better activity than CIT. The treatment of mice with both compounds did not cause death of any animals. The levels of TBARS were significantly reduced by PhSeCIT in liver and cortex of animals, whereas CIT did not alter these parameters.

In the TST and FST, PhSeCIT showed promising antidepressant-like activity, while CIT was not active in this test.

Taken together, these data demonstrate the role of selenium in the antioxidant and antidepressant-like activities of (R)-citronellal.

Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

KEYWORDS:  Antidepressant; Antioxidant; Citronellal; Organoselenium; Selenium

PMID:  25218989