Superoxide dismutase mimics as future therapeutics

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes are ubiquitous in living things. These enzymes serve a vital role in defending oxygen-utilising life forms from oxidative damage. As a commercial human therapeutic, the enzyme SOD has been used to treat arthritis, inflammation and the side-effects of radiation treatment. Superoxide dismutase mimics (SODm) have been developed for the treatment of many diseases which involve an excess of superoxide. In this review, the advantages of using an SODm will be addressed as well as methods for measuring SOD activity. The SODm in current patent literature including manganese salen complexes, manganese porphyrin complexes, manganese pentaaza macrocyclic complexes, copper complexes, and nitroxides, will be compared based on available physical and biological data. The activity of these mimics has been measured directly or indirectly to determine catalytic rates and in efficacy studies ranging from cell cultures to animal studies. SODm have been investigated in animal models for a variety of indications including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ischaemia-reperfusion injury, thrombosis, and inflammation. A summary of the results of biological assays and models used in testing SODm is provided in this review. While SODm have not yet entered clinical trials, some of these compounds are highly promising as future therapeutics.