Selenium Modification of Natural Products: History
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Kaixuan Cheng
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Yang Sun
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Bowen Liu
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Jiajia Ming
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Lulu Wang
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Chenfeng Xu
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Yuanyuan Xiao
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Chi Zhang
,
Longchen Shang

The selenization of natural products refers to the chemical modification method of artificially introducing selenium atoms into natural products to interact with the functional groups in the target molecule to form selenides.

  • natural products
  • selenium
  • chemical modification

1. Introduction

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element with diverse biological functions within the body [1]. An insufficient intake of selenium-containing foods can lead to various diseases related to selenium deficiency [2], such as Keshan disease [3], heart disease [4], tumors [5], and immune injury [6]. According to reports, about two-thirds of the world’s soil is selenium-deficient, and there are about 5 million to 1 billion people who are facing the threat of selenium deficiency-related diseases [7]. Specifically, Central China and southeastern Siberia are highly insufficient in selenium [8]. In China, nearly 72% of the area is insufficient in selenium to various degrees, and there are as many as tens of millions of people who are insufficient in selenium [7]. The selenium level of the selenium-deficient regions is significantly lower than that of the selenium-rich areas, resulting in 39-61% of Chinese residents having a daily selenium intake under the recommended value of the World Health Organization/FAO [9]. Increasing dietary selenium intake can effectively reduce the risk of these diseases [10].
Organic selenium occurs in nature mainly in the form of selenized polysaccharides and selenized polypeptides, among others. While inorganic selenium compounds mainly include selenates, selenites, etc. [11]. Compared with inorganic selenium, organic selenium has significant advantages such as high bioavailability and low toxicity, as well as it being more easily absorbed by the human body [12]. Selenization modification is an effective method to convert inorganic selenium into organic selenium artificially. During selenization modification, the selenium element of inorganic selenium compounds binds to organic compounds such as natural products and interacts with their functional groups, thereby introducing selenium into organic compounds to achieve the selenization modification of target compounds, changing their properties and functions [12] and further tapping its application potential. The selenization modification of natural products involves many fields, such as biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacy, and food science [1]. As a newly developed chemical modification method, selenization has a brief research history [13]. However, due to the unique physiological activity of selenized products, exploring how to efficiently selenize them and delve deeper into their physiological activity has become one of the research hotspots in recent years. At present, various selenylation modification methods have been widely used to improve the biological activity of natural products and develop new selenium supplements [14].

2. Application and Prospect of Seleno-Modified Natural Products

2.1. Biomedical Field

When a selenized target is used as a drug, it can reduce its toxicity, enhance its biological activity, and also have the effect of selenium supplements. In addition, the target’s natural products can improve the body’s oxidative stress, enhance human immunity, and have a certain anti-tumor effect after selenization modification [15].
Zhang et al. [16] extracted glucomannan from the rhizome of Platycodon grandiflorum and modified it by the HNO3-Na2SeO3 method. The prepared selenized polysaccharides have a certain inhibitory effect on a variety of cancer cell lines, such as human lung adenocarcinoma cells, human breast cancer cells, and human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. At the same time, they show less toxicity to normal cells, which is expected to provide ideas for the development of new cancer treatment drugs. Sun et al. [17] confirmed that selenium-modified chitosan can effectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation, eventually leading to the apoptosis of hepatoma cell HepG2 by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, Gao et al. [18] studied the regulatory effect of selenizing codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides (sCPPSs) on immune function in mice. The results of in vitro cell studies showed that sCPPSs could significantly promote the proliferation of mouse spleen cells and induce the secretion of immune factors, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), while improving the phagocytic activity of mouse macrophages and the killing ability of natural killer cells. At the same time, the results of in vivo animal experiments showed that sCPPSs could significantly increase the serum total antibody level of mice and induce a specific immune response against ovarian protein antigen in mice, and sCPPSs are expected to become a new type of immune enhancer and immunomodulator.
Selenium-modified natural products have certain potential in improving nervous system diseases and intestinal flora ecology. Amporndanai et al. [19] used the parent nucleus benzoisoselenazolone of ebselen (a synthetic organic selenium drug with strong antioxidant and cytoprotective effects), which has a stabilizing effect on mutant superoxide dismutase-1, as a precursor to construct a series of organic selenium compounds. In in vitro and in vivo models, the neuroprotective effects of ebselen and its derivatives were studied. The results showed that ebselen and its derivatives revealed good neuroprotective effects in mouse nerve cells and restored the viability of mouse nerve cells in vitro. Wang et al. [20] showed that selenium-modified millet water-soluble dietary fiber has the ability to promote the production of tryptophan by intestinal flora. Tryptophan has a certain therapeutic effect on inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, which helps promote the host’s intestinal health. Qin et al. [21] studied the effect of seleno-oligochitosan on intestinal dysfunction in piglets and found that seleno-oligochitosan could increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, enhance the antioxidant capacity of intestinal tissue, and reduce the damage of oxidative stress. In addition, seleno-oligochitosan promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and reduces the breeding of harmful bacteria, thereby maintaining the balance of intestinal flora and promoting intestinal health.

2.2. Food Field

In food science, selenium-modified natural products can be used for food preservation, to improve food quality and taste, enhance food nutrition, and contribute to the development of functional foods, with a wide range of application prospects [22].
First, it can be used as a dietary supplement to improve the nutritional value of food [23]. For example, commercially available selenate cereals are made by adding selenium-modified natural products to grains to increase the selenium content of these grains [23], thereby helping to increase the human body’s intake of trace element selenium. Selenized food also has an antioxidant effect, which can reduce the risk of cancer to a certain extent with satiety [24]. Other researchers believe that selenium yeast [25] can be added to foods such as bread and milk. This form of selenium is more easily absorbed by the human body, effectively increasing the selenium content of foods and improving their nutritional value [26].
In addition, selenium-modified natural products with antioxidant and antibacterial activities have potential applications in the field of taste improvement and preservation [27]. For example, adding selenoproteins to meat products can improve the tenderness of food and its taste and prevent the oxidation and deterioration of meat products, prolonging their shelf life [28]. The main reason for this is that after selenium modification, these active natural products, as effective antioxidants, can inhibit the generation of free radicals in food, thus contributing to food preservation. Moreover, compared with traditional synthetic antioxidants, natural products often have better safety and stability after selenization modification [29].
In general, the selenization modification applied in natural products is an effective food improvement technology that can be used to elevate food quality and develop new functional foods in the future. It has broad application prospects in food science research.

2.3. Beauty and Skin Care Field

Adding selenium-modified active natural products to cosmetics can increase the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of products, helping skin resist the invasion of free radicals and effectively preventing skin problems caused by bacterial growth. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease characterized by barrier dysfunction, skin inflammation, and skin dysbacteriosis. Baldwin et al. [30] found that the use of hot spring water and moisturizer containing selenized products could manage inflammatory skin diseases. Moisturizer containing selenium-modified products can promote the growth of symbiotic bacteria, improve the microbial population structure, reduce the barrier function of skin and the symptoms of AD, and promote the recovery of skin homeostasis. Wei et al. [31] prepared selenium-enriched mung bean fermentation broth (Se-MBFB) by fermentation and carried out in vitro experiments. The results showed that Se-MBFB could enhance its physiological function with selenium. Se-MBFB is rich in polyphenols, peptides, and γ-aminobutyric acid. It has significant free radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, reduces melanin synthesis and deposition, and has a good whitening effect. At the same time, it can promote the production of collagen and cell regeneration, improve the elasticity and smoothness of skin, and has significant moisturizing and anti-aging effects. In addition, the selenized natural products in the fermentation broth also alleviate skin problems such as erythema, stains, and wrinkles.

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/foods12203773

References

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