Evaluation of antioxidant activity and potential toxicity of 1-buthyltelurenyl-2-methylthioheptene

The aim of the present study was to evaluate pharmacological and toxicological properties of 1-buthyltelurenyl-2-methylthioheptene (compound 1). In vitro, compound 1 at 1 μM was effective in reducing lipid peroxidation induced by Fe/EDTA. Compound 1 presented neither thiol peroxidase nor thiol oxidase activity and did not change δ-ALA-D (δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase) activity (10–400 μM). Calculated LD50 of compound 1, administered by oral route, was 65.1 μmol/kg. Rats treated with compound 1 did not reveal any motor impairment in the open field. Hepatic, renal and cerebral lipid peroxidation in treated rats did not differ from those in control rats. Conversely, 0.5 μmol/kg of compound 1 decreased lipid peroxidation in spleen. δ-ALA-D activity in liver and spleen was inhibited in rats treated with the higher dose of compound 1 but no significant differences were detected in renal δ-ALA-D activity. AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) activities as well as urea and creatinine levels were increased by high doses of compound 1 (50–75 μmol/kg). Compound 1 induced a significant decrease in plasma triglyceride levels but none of the doses tested changed the cholesterol level. This is a promising compound for more detailed pharmacological studies involving organotellurium compounds.