Introduction of trifluoromethyl group into diphenyl diselenide molecule alters its toxicity and protective effect against damage induced by 2-nitropropane in rats

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate if the introduction of trifluoromethyl (F 3C) group into diphenyl diselenide (PhSe) 2 molecule causes acute toxicity in rats. It was further examined if the presence of F 3C group in (PhSe) 2 molecule alters the protective effect caused by (PhSe) 2 against damage induced by 2-nitropropane (2-NP) in rats. To investigate the potential oral toxicity of (PhSe) 2 and (F 3CPhSe) 2, rats received a single oral application of (PhSe) 2 (7.8–312 mg/kg) or (F 3CPhSe) 2 (11.2–448 mg/kg). Calculated lethal dose (LD 50) for (PhSe) 2 and (F 3CPhSe) 2 was estimated to be 312 mg/kg (=1 mmol/kg) and 234 mg/kg (=0.52 mmol/kg), respectively. Oral administration of (PhSe) 2 in rats did not change plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities (AST and ALT) as well as urea and creatinine levels. The introduction of F 3C group into (PhSe) 2 molecule increased AST activity in plasma of rats. (PhSe) 2 (3.2 mg/kg=10 μmol/kg) and (F 3CPhSe) 2 (4.48 mg/kg=10 μmol/kg) protected ALT, AST and γ-glutamyl transferase ( γ-GT) activities against the increase caused by oral administration of 2-NP (120 mg/kg) in rats. (PhSe) 2 and (F 3CPhSe) 2 ameliorated hepatic catalase activity altered by 2-NP in rats. These results indicate that the chemical alteration into (PhSe) 2 molecule introduced toxicity and altered its protective effect against damage induced by 2-NP in rats.