The Function and Application of the Magic Superoxide Dismutase

Some substances can easily interact with the oxygen in the air when exposed to the air, causing chemical changes in the substance. This is the process of oxidation. Sun exposure, air pollution, radiation, etc. will cause the human skin to produce a large amount of superoxide free radicals, and its strong oxidizing ability will accelerate the speed of skin oxidation, and may even cause serious skin lesions. Enzyme is a kind of biocatalyst produced by living cells in the organism, among which antioxidant enzymes can slow down the rate of oxidation. Antioxidant enzymes are the collective names of superoxide dismutase (SOD), thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT). Antioxidant enzymes have the effect of converting peroxides formed in the body into less toxic or harmless substances. Superoxide Dismutase (EC1.15.1.1, SOD), also known as liver protein, is an important antioxidant enzyme widely distributed in various organisms, such as animals, plants, and microorganisms. In 1938, superoxide dismutase was first isolated from bovine red blood cells. In 1969, Dr. McCord discovered the biological activity of this enzyme and clarified the nature of its catalyzing the disproportionation of peroxyanions, so it was officially named superoxide dismutase. SOD is an active substance derived from living organisms, which can eliminate harmful substances produced by living organisms during metabolism. It has been confirmed that there are more than 60 diseases caused by oxygen free radicals. It can resist and block the damage to cells caused by oxygen free radicals, repair damaged cells in time, and restore the damage to cells caused by free radicals. Due to the pressure of modern life, environmental pollution, all kinds of radiation and excessive exercise will cause the formation of a large number of oxygen free radicals, the status of SOD in the biological antioxidant mechanism is becoming more and more important. SOD is regarded as the most magical enzyme in life sciences and is the natural enemy of oxygen free radicals. Continuously replenishing SOD to the human body has a special anti-aging effect. SOD is an active protease containing metal elements, which catalyzes the following reactions:rn2O2-+2H+→H2O2+O2 O2- is called superoxide anion free radical, which is an intermediate product naturally generated in a variety of physiological reactions of organisms. It is a kind of reactive oxygen species with strong oxidizing ability and is one of the important factors of biological oxygen poisoning. SOD is a naturally occurring superoxide free radical scavenger in the body, which can convert harmful superoxide free radicals into hydrogen peroxide through the above reaction. Although hydrogen peroxide is still harmful reactive oxygen species, catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in the body will immediately decompose it into completely harmless water. In this way, the three enzymes form a complete anti-oxidation chain. At present, SOD mainly has the following two application areasrn1. DrugsrnIt is mainly concentrated in patients with inflammatory diseases, especially in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic polyarthritis, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, tumor patients, and radiation therapy patients with inflammatory diseases. 2. Biochemical PharmaceuticalsrnAs a biochemical enzyme preparation, it is widely used in clinical and scientific research, which can resist aging, anti-tumor, regulate the human endocrine system, and improve immunity.