Superoxide dismutase mimetic activity of macrocyclic Cu(II)-tetraanhydroaminobenzaldehyde (TAAB) complex.

The superoxide dismutase mimetic activity of a copper(II) complex with the tetraazamacrocyclic ligand TAAB has been investigated using the xanthin-xanthine oxidase system for generation of superoxide. The complex exhibits 50% inhibition of the 3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride (INT) reduction at the concentration of 0.144 mumol.l-1 (pH 7.8, 25 degrees C). The activity survives in the presence of chelators including EDTA and serum albumin. The enzymatic activity of the complex represents about 3% of that of intact Cu2Zn2SOD.