Multifunctional antioxidants prevent oxidative damage through multiple mechanisms, including scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and interfering with active sites in enzymes.  N,N'-dimethylimidazole thione and selone prevent DNA damage through both metal coordination and ROS scavenging as determined from gel electrophoresis studies with Cu(I) or Fe(II) and hydrogen peroxide, as well as with peroxynitrite. The primary antioxidant mechanism is metal coordination that occurs at biologically relevant concentrations (1-10 �M for the selone and 35-350 �M for the thione). Additional DNA damage prevention due to scavenging ROS is observed at higher concentrations (> 500 �M). The bidentate derivatives, ethyl-bis(imidazole) thione and selone exhibit increased activity at lower concentrations than the monodentate selone and thione compounds.  Thus, these are the first sulfur and selenium antioxidants that effectively inhibit DNA damage by coordinating Fe(II) and Cu(I) and by scavenging ROS.

Multifunctional sulfur and selenium antioxidants: Metal coordination and structure impact activity

245th National Meeting (2013)

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