Many diseases are associated with the overproduction of hydroperoxides that
inflict cell damage. A novel cyclodextrin derivative, 6A,6B-diseleninic ac
id-6A ' ,6B ' -selenium bridged beta -cyclodextrin (6-diSeCD), was synthesi
zed to be a functional mimic of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) that normally
removes these hydroperoxides. The mimic had high catalytic GPX activity of
13.5 U/mu mol, which is 13.6-fold higher than ebselen (PZ51), and was chemi
cally and biologically stable in vitro. Antioxidant activity was studied by
ferrous sulfate/ascorbate-induced mitochondria damage model system. These
data show that the mimic has great antioxidant activity. Such mimics may re
sult in better clinical therapies for diseases mediated by hydroperoxides.
(C) 2001 Academic Press.