Evaluation of sulfur, selenium and tellurium catalysts with antioxidant potential

Oxidative stress is implicated, either directly or indirectly, in the pathology of a range of human diseases. As a consequence, the development of efficient antioxidants for medical use has become increasingly important. We have synthesized a range of structurally related organo-sulfur, -selenium and -tellurium agents and demonstrated that a combination of electrochemical methodology, in vitro assays and cell culture tests can be used to rationalise the antioxidant activity of these catalytic agents. Based on its exceptionally low anodic oxidation potential (Epa) and high activity against the representative oxidative stressors tert-butyl hydroperoxide and peroxynitrite, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyltelluride is predicted to be a potent antioxidant. This compound exhibits a correspondingly high activity with a remarkably low IC₅₀ value of 20 nM, when tested in PC12 cell culture using a bioassay indicative of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.