The Application of ESR Spin-Trapping Technique to the Evaluation of SOD-<i>like</i> Activity of Biological Substances

Abstract

Abstract The SOD-like activity of several biological substances was evaluated by an ESR spin-trapping technique. Superoxide radicals (O2\ewdot) were supplied enzymatically from a hypoxanthine–xanthine oxidase reaction to the evaluating system. By using a spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), the generated O2\ewdot was trapped stoichiometrically (1:1) as the spin adduct of O2\ewdot (DMPO–O2−). When biological substances were added to the system, a decrease in the ESR signal intensities of the adducts was observed. This phenomenon could be explained as being an inhibition of adduct formation, and related to the reactivity of added biological substances with O2\ewdot, called an SOD-like activity. By the method of kinetic competition with a 50% inhibitory dose (ID50), the second-order rate constant for the reaction between O2\ewdot and biological substance was determined. These rate constants can be used as a measure of the reactivity.