Determination of the superoxide dismutating activity of D-penicillamine copper.

The superoxide dismutating activity of the D-penicillamine copper complex was determined and compared with the activities of Cu-Zn and Mn superoxide dismutase in four O2 ground negative earth generating systems. I. Nitrite formation from hydroxylamine. II. Crocin destruction by xanthine/xanthine oxidase. III. Ethylene production by isolated chloroplasts. IV. Nitrite formation from hydroxylamine by chloroplasts in the presence of diquat (1, 1'-dimethylene-2,2'-bipyridylium dibromide). In all four test systems a high dismutative activity of the complex was found, which is not sensitive to KCN as demonstrated with test system III. The results are discussed with regard to the antiinflammatory activity of D-penicillamine.