Affiliations: Institute of Solid Physics, Chinese Academy of
Science, Hefei, 230031, P.R. China | Nutrition, Health & Consumer Science Division,
Institute of Food Research, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK
Abstract: A novel selenium form, nano red elemental selenium (Nano-Se) was
prepared by adding bovine serum albumin to the redox system of selenite and
glutathione. Nano-Se has a 7-fold lower acute toxicity than sodium selenite in
mice (LD_{50} 113 and 15 mg Se/kg body weight respectively).
In Se-deficient rat, both Nano-Se and selenite can increase tissue selenium and
GPx activity. The biological activities of Nano-Se and selenite were compared
in terms of cell proliferation, enzyme induction and protection against free
racial-mediated damage in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Nano-Se and selenite are
similarly cell growth inhibited and stimulated synthesis of glutathione
peroxidase (GPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and
thioredoxin reductase (TR). When HepG2 cells were co-treated with selenium and
glutathione, Nano-Se showed less pro-oxidative effects than selenite, as
measured by cell growth. These results demonstrate that Nano-Se has a similar
bioavailability in the rat and antioxidant effects on cells.
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 27-38, 2001
