SYNTHESIS AND BIOACTIVITY OF A NOVEL DANDELION-LIKE SELENIUM AND CATECHIN COMPLEX
IONUȚ IULIAN LUNGU, CORNELIA MIRCEA, ALINA ȘTEFANACHE, FLORINA CRIVOI, OANA CIOANCĂ *, MONICA HĂNCIANU
“Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
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Selenium is an important trace element which boasts potent antioxidant potential, modulating physiology and biochemistry, pivotal for health, whereas catechins are a group of polyphenols that can be found in many different plant species. These compounds are valued for their health benefits. Our aim was to obtain a novel compound by dissolving catechin and sodium selenite in methanol, followed by gradual mixing and pH adjustment. The formation of a dark brown precipitate confirmed the complexation. The isolated, washed and dried complex was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) to confirm structural changes. The antioxidant and scavenging activities were evaluated using various methods such as the reduction of the DPPH free radical, the chelation of the Fe2+, the inhibition of lipoxygenase and the scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. The complex and pure catechin were also tested for their inhibition of carbohydrases. SEM results revealed the morphology of the complex, showing dandelion-like shapes, acicular structures, and spherical entities. The complex exhibits fractures and pores, indicating its physical and chemical properties. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of carbon, oxygen, and selenium in the synthesized complex, supporting its chemical structure. In general, the antioxidant capacity of the complex was higher than that of catechin or sodium selenite taken alone, however, the iron chelation activity is much lower than catechin. The inhibitory activity of the new complex against amylase and glucosidase was similar to the effect of catechin. Overall, our study demonstrates the synthesis and characterization of a catechin-selenium complex that boasts a pronounced antioxidant and antidiabetic activity than its individual constituents, highlighting its potential as a nutraceutical compound with enhanced biological properties.