Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide through dismutation reaction. It is widely found in various animals, plants, and microorganisms. It is an important antioxidant that protects cells exposed to oxygen.
Application of Superoxide Dismutase
Food
SOD is found in high levels in fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, hawthorns, roxburghii, kiwis, garlic, etc., and is also found in scallops, chicken, etc. The activity of SOD is higher in the peel than in the pulp, and higher in fresh fruits than in fruits that have been left standing. It is processed into health products and food additives in various forms for use, such as food nutritional enhancers such as milk, beer, and soft candies with SOD added.
Daily chemical industry
Skin aging and damage are important characteristics of human aging, and human aging is the result of the accumulation or clearance of reactive oxygen free radicals. Excess free radicals in the body can cause cell damage and pigmentation. Since human skin is in direct contact with oxygen, it can cause skin aging and damage. The supplementation of exogenous SOD is beneficial to delay skin aging, anti-oxidation, and remove pigmentation. Therefore, many cosmetics manufacturers at home and abroad have added a certain proportion of SOD to their products.
Anti-inflammatory aspect
Since SOD is a specific dismutation reaction catalyst acting on superoxide anion free radicals, SOD, as a pharmaceutical product, has significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases caused by free radicals. SOD can use its antioxidant effect to inhibit inflammation types such as arthritis, pleurisy, and acute tracheitis.
Reactive oxygen, including superoxide free radicals, plays an important role in colitis, and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) can destroy superoxide free radicals in the body. A recent study published in Redox Biology found that SOD1 deficiency can enhance oxidative stress in mice, damage the intestinal epithelial barrier, reduce antioxidant enzyme activity, and increase colonic infiltration of pro-inflammatory immune cells to worsen DSS-induced colitis in mice. Restoring SOD activity can inhibit inflammation and apoptosis mediated by p38-MAPK/NF-κB signaling, thereby alleviating colitis.
Anti-tumor aspect
In the human body, SOD can effectively inhibit cancer cells by scavenging superoxide anion free radicals, and the expression effect of Mn-SOD is more prominent.