The effects of ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) on human LDL lipid oxidation induced by different fluxes of aqueous peroxyl radicals and cupric ion (at a Cu2+:LDL ratio of 17:1) were investigated. Addition of ebselen to LDL oxidised with Cu2+ prolonged the duration of the lag-phase typical for this oxidising condition, with the increase being proportional to the square of the ebselen concentration. Ebselen also prevented the formation of lipid hydroperoxides and inhibited the consumption of endogenous antioxidants during the early period of Cu(2+)-induced oxidation, during which time the drug was converted stoichiometrically into ebselen oxide (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one-Se-oxide). Ebselen oxide itself was antioxidant inactive. Ebselen also inhibited formation of lipid-hydroperoxides and spared alpha-tocopherol during the initial stages of LDL oxidation mediated by low-flux of aqueous peroxyl radicals, where a lag-phase was not observed. When a higher flux of aqueous peroxyl radicals was used, ebselen increased the observed inhibited phase of peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner, though less pronounced than its prolongating effect on the lag-phase of Cu(2+)-induced LDL lipid oxidation. Ebselen was also able to directly interact with Cu1+, alkyl peroxyl radicals and alpha-tocopheroxyl radicals, demonstrating that the drug has a number of potential antioxidant activities in addition to its well-known hydroperoxide-reducing activity. We conclude that the antioxidant activities of ebselen are complex and that their relative importance likely vary depending on the experimental system used.