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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

A glimpse on biological activities of tellurium compounds

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Author(s):
Cunha, Rodrigo L. O. R. [1, 2] ; Gouvea, Iuri E. [2] ; Juliano, Luiz [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biofis, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 81, n. 3, p. 393-407, SEP 2009.
Web of Science Citations: 85
Abstract

Tellurium is a rare element which has been regarded as a toxic, non-essential trace element and its biological role is not clearly established to date. Besides of that, the biological effects of elemental tellurium and some of its inorganic and organic derivatives have been studied, leading to a set of interesting and promising applications. As an example, it can be highlighted the uses of alkali-metal tellurites and tellurates in microbiology, the antioxidant effects of organotellurides and diorganoditellurides and the immunomodulatory effects of the non-toxic inorganic tellurane, named AS-101, and the plethora of its uses. Inasmuch, the nascent applications of organic telluranes (organotelluranes) as protease inhibitors and its applications in disease models are the most recent contribution to the scenario of the biological effects and applications of tellurium and its compounds discussed in this manuscript. (AU)