2,2′-dithienyl diselenide, an organoselenium compound, elicits antioxidant action and inhibits monoamine oxidase activity in vitro.

Context: Organoselenium compounds have been described as antioxidant and neuroprotective agents. Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant action of 2,2′-dithienyl diselenide (DTDS) and its effects in brain monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in vitro. Materials and methods: Assays for reactive species (RS), lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, MAO A and B activities in rat brain homogenate as well as mimetic dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities were performed using DTDS (μM range). Results: DTDS was effective in decreasing the levels of RS as well as lipid peroxidation induced by malonate, sodium nitroprusside or FeCl2/EDTA and protein carbonyl in the rat brain homogenate. DTDS elicited dehydroascorbate reductase-like and glutathione S-transferase-like activities. DTDS was effective in inhibiting both MAO-A and MAO-B activities. Discussion: The results demonstrated that DTDS is an antioxidant agent with non-selective inhibitory effect on MAO activity. Conclusion: DTDS is a promising molecule to be evaluated in experimental models of neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]