Se-Methylselenocysteine is a selenium-containing amino acid that has been found in Allium and has antioxidative and anticancer augmenting activities.1,2 Se-Methylselenocysteine (0.01-10 ?M) prevents tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, as well as decreases in glutathione (GSH) levels, in HepG2 cells.1 It has an additive effect on irinotecan-induced tumor growth reduction in a FaDu mouse xenograft model when administered at a dose of 5 ?g/animal per day.2
1.Cuello, S., Ramos, S., Mateos, R., et al.Selenium methylselenocysteine protects human hepatoma HepG2 cells against oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxideAnal. Bioanal. Chem.389(7-8)2167-2178(2007) 2.Azrak, R.G., Cao, S., Pendyala, L., et al.Efficacy of increasing the therapeutic index of irinotecan, plasma and tissue selenium concentrations is methylselenocysteine dose dependentBiochem. Pharmacol.73(9)1280-1287(2007)