Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of selenomethylene blue.

The selenium derivative of methylene blue, has been compared with the parent compound. Unlike some organic selenium compounds neither of the compounds affected macrophage chemiluminescence nor did they catalyse the glutathione-dependent breakdown of hydroperoxides in vitro. However, both inhibited iron-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation, in vitro and ex vivo, the selenium derivative being 3-fold more active in this respect. Both compounds inhibited inflammatory paw oedema in the rat, selenomethylene blue being the more active. Selenomethylene blue, thus, does not exhibit a different anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory profile from that of the parent sulphur compound, but exhibits increased inhibitory activity.