Superoxide dismutase, also known as superoxide dismutase. It is a type of enzyme that can catalyze the dismutation of superoxide anion radicals (O2-) to H2O2 and O2. This enzyme is widely distributed and has been isolated from various organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, plants, protozoa, insects, fish, and mammals.
Superoxide dismutase is very stable, and the SOD of bovine red blood cells is rarely inactivated even after heating at 75 ℃ for a few minutes. It is also relatively stable to acid and alkali, and can react within the pH range of 5.3 to 10.5.
Superoxide dismutase has antioxidant and anti-aging effects, and its mechanism of action is mainly to eliminate harmful superoxide anion free radicals (O2-) from the body. Superoxide dismutase has unique therapeutic effects on diseases caused by superoxide free radicals (O2-), such as oxygen poisoning, acute inflammation, various autoimmune diseases, radiation sickness, and age-related cataracts. It is a promising new type of medicinal enzyme. Superoxide dismutase is being studied as an anti-aging drug.
The main function of SOD is to catalyze the dismutation of superoxide anion radicals into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. Superoxide anion free radicals are normal metabolites in living organisms. However, the accumulation of free radicals will cause lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane, leading to membrane fission and even cell damage and death. SOD is the most important and optimal free radical scavenger in organisms, maintaining metabolic balance.
In addition, SOD has significant therapeutic effects on diseases such as myocardial infarction, vascular heart disease, collagen disease, neonatal dyspnea syndrome, edema, emphysema, oxygen poisoning, etc. It can also treat various skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and pruritus. SOD, as a superoxide anion radical scavenger, is widely used in delaying human aging, preventing diseases, improving human immunity, and as an additive in food and cosmetics. Since the discovery of SOD as the first enzyme to use superoxide anions as its substrate, its effective role in preventing and treating diseases related to superoxide radicals has been fully demonstrated. When the body produces too many superoxide anions or the concentration of SOD is low, excessive superoxide anions can cause diseases, and exogenous SOD can effectively prevent and treat them.
Antioxidant and anti-aging properties
SOD can eliminate and reduce excessive free radicals in the human body, thereby delaying aging. It can continuously eliminate oxygen free radicals generated by excessive oxygen consumption of melanin under light, preventing the formation of excessive melanin. At the same time, it can continuously eliminate oxygen free radicals produced by lipofuscin and waxy substance to avoid excessive lipid peroxidation, reduce the formation of lipofuscin and waxy substance, and thus play a role in preventing aging.
The drawbacks of improper use of SOD. When using SOD drugs, it is important to understand the true causes of aging. The causes of human aging are multifaceted, and excessive oxygen free radicals are just one of the reasons. Excessive use of SOD can bring certain toxic side effects to the body.
Antitumor
SOD can effectively inhibit cancer cells by clearing superoxide anion free radicals in the human body, and the expression effect of Mn SOD is more prominent. The content of SOD in the human body gradually decreases with age. Its decline leads to a decrease in the body's antioxidant capacity, which in turn leads to a decrease in resistance. In severe cases, tumors can occur, so the majority of cancer patients are generally elderly. From this perspective, detecting the level of SOD in a person's body can serve as an important indicator for determining whether a person has cancer and aging index.
SOD can clear superoxide anion free radicals and protect cells from damage. When the content of SOD increases, it inhibits the formation of tumors caused by radiation, increases the differentiation of fibroblasts, and prevents the deterioration of tumors. For those who have already been exposed to mild radiation, using SOD as an irradiation protective agent is more effective than using other methods to treat radiation patients. Therefore, injecting SOD into individuals who may be exposed to ionizing radiation can prevent the occurrence of tumors.
antiinflammatory
SOD has extremely strong anti-inflammatory effects. Treating pleurisy with SOD can reduce the accumulation of pleural effusion and white blood cells. SOD can also inhibit arthritis, reduce the deposition of IgG in the glomerulus, and interfere with the accumulation of white blood cells in the inflammatory site of the glomerulus. SOD can inhibit the changes in organ permeability caused by acute tracheitis caused by xanthine/xanthine oxidase, and reduce the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the lungs. SOD has a therapeutic and improving effect on idiopathic proctitis. Injecting an appropriate amount of bovine Cu and Zn SOD can improve joint appearance, enhance joint mobility, and effectively treat osteoarthritis. It can be seen that SOD has good application prospects for treating inflammation.
