Se-(2-aminoalkyl)selenocysteines as biochemical redox agents. A tool to contrast cell injury induced by aflatoxin B1 in HepG2 cells

Se-(2-aminoalkyl)selenocysteines were shown to have a chemoprotective activity towards HepG2 cells, contrasting the cell damage of aflatoxin B1. The results of this study suggest that our newly synthesized seleno-diamino acids are apparently endowed with a potent protective potential against cell damage caused by AFB1 similar to, or even higher than, that exerted by the reference compound Se-Me-SeCys. The protective effect does not seem to be absolute, i.e., merely determined by the presence of the chalcogen atom, but rather strictly related to the molecular structure of the new compounds tested. From this point of view, Se-(2-aminoalkyl)selenocysteines may represent a new class of biochemical redox agents fruitfully exploitable to contrast aflatoxin toxicity, at the same time a sound medical application and an economically relevant agricultural issue.