Determination of the Superoxide Dismutating Activity of D-Penicillamine Copper

Abstract

The superoxide dismutating activity of the D-penicillamine Cu complex was determined and compared with the activites of Cu-Zn and Mn superoxide dismutase in four O2 generating systems: nitrite formation from hydroxylamine; crocin destruction by xanthine/xanthine oxidase; ethylene production by isolated chloroplasts; and nitrite formation from hydroxylamine by chloroplasts in the presence of diquat (1,1''-dimethylene-2,2''-bipyridylium dibromide). In all 4 test systems a high dismutative activity of the complex was found, which is not sensitive to KCN as demonstrated with the ethylene production by isolated chloroplasts system. The results are discussed with regard to the antiinflammatory activity of D-penicillamine.