Studies on telluric hyaluronic acid (TeHA): A novel antioxidant

A novel telluric hyaluronic acid (TeHA) compound was synthesized to imitate the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The GPX activity of the mimic was found to be 164 U/μmol, which is 165 times as active as Ebselen [PZ51], a well-known GPX mimic. Antioxidant activity was studied by using a ferrous sulfate/ascorbate (Fe2+/Vc)-induced mitochondria damage model system. TeHA markedly decreased the swelling of mitochondria, inhibited the lipid peroxidation, maintained the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, and exhibited excellent antioxidant ability.