Catechins and Selenium Species—How They React with Each Other

Abstract

The combination of selenium and tea infusion, both with antioxidant properties, has potentially complementary mechanisms of action. Se-enriched tea has been considered as a possible Se supplement and a functional beverage to reduce the health risk of Se deficiency. This work investigated the interactions between plant catechins present in tea infusions and selenium species based on changes in the concentration of both reagents, their stability in aqueous solutions, and the possibilities of selenonanoparticles (SeNPs) formation. Selenium species exhibited instability both alone in their standard solutions and in the presence of studied catechins; selenocystine appeared as the most unstable. The recorded UV–Vis absorption spectra indicated the formation of SeNPs in the binary mixtures of catechins and selenite. SeNPs have also formed with diameters smaller than 100 nm when selenite and selenomethionine were added to tea infusions. This is an advantage from the point of view of potential medical applications.