Description
Methylselenocysteine is found in plants in the Astragalus, Allium, and Brassica genera; it exhibits cytoprotective, chemopreventive, anti-angiogenic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Methylselenocysteine induces phase II enzyme activity and protects organs against chemotherapy-induced toxicity. In other models, methylselenocysteine increases expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase, protecting against radiation-induced oxidative damage. Additionally, this compound decreases activation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and JNK and decreases expression of iNOS in LPS-stimulated macrophages.