Radical‐Trapping and Hydroperoxide‐Decomposing Benzoselenazole Antioxidants with Potential Biological Applications against Oxidative Stress

The synthesis of phenolic benzoselenazoles has been described. These were synthesized from their corresponding diselenides and aldehydes using acetic acid as a catalyst. All compounds have been tested for glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like antioxidant activity in thiophenol assay. Radical-trapping antioxidant (RTA) activity of benzoselenazoles towards ROO⋅ radicals has been studied for the inhibition of autoxidation of cumene in chlorobenzene from the O₂-consumption during the inhibited period. Compound 13 c was found to inhibit azo-initiated oxidation of cumene with a stoichiometric factor (n) ≃2.2. This study also suggested some insights into the substitution-dependent activity of anilides over phenols as effective radical-trapping antioxidants. Moreover, the zone of inhibition study corroborated the antimicrobial potential of benzoselenazole antioxidants against Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Anti-biofilm activities were portrayed against the production of biofilms by B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa. MDA-MB-231 cell line was selected for triple-negative breast carcinoma for in vitro cytotoxicity of all antioxidants using the MTT assay. Additionally, the interaction patterns of antioxidants with target proteins of B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa were demonstrated using molecular docking study. Molecular dynamics simulations were deployed to investigate the structural dynamics and the stability of the complex.