Claim: Superoxide dismutase mimetics or SOD converts the superoxide anion into hydrogen peroxide while being a prime interest in therapeutic treatment of oxidative stress, however manganese-based SOD mimetics are more therapeutically effective.
Evidence: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics are synthetic compounds that mimic the native superoxide dismutase enzyme. SOD mimetics effectively convert the superoxide anion (O 2), a reactive oxygen species, into hydrogen peroxide, which is further converted into water by catalase. SOD mimetics are a prime interest in therapeutic treatment of oxidative stress because of their smaller size, longer half-life, and similarity in function to the native enzyme. However, manganese-based SOD mimetics are found to be more therapeutically effective than their counterparts due to their low toxicity, higher catalytic activity, and increased stability in vivo.