Glutathione peroxidase mimicry

Glutathione peroxidase mimicry describes the **pharmacological or chemical reproduction of the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx)**, a family of antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative damage by reducing hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides to water and corresponding alcohols, using glutathione as a cofactor[1][10]. Synthetic GPx mimics—such as ebselen, diphenyl diselenide, and various diselenide or telluride compounds—are designed to emulate this detoxification mechanism, with therapeutic applications in conditions characterized by oxidative stress, including cisplatin-induced hearing loss, diabetes, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation[2][3][5][6][7]. These agents are not proteins but rather small molecules or engineered materials possessing catalytic ROS-scavenging activity similar to native GPx enzymes.

Other names

Glutathione peroxidase mimicsGPx mimicsperoxidase mimetic compoundsselenium-based antioxidantsGPx-like catalytic compounds

Catalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides using glutathione as an electron donor (mimicking endogenous GPx enzymatic reaction) Scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS)