Abstract: Superoxide dismutases are ubiquitous in living systems. These enzymes serve a vital role in defending oxygen-utilizing life forms from oxidative damage. The natural superoxide dismutases can catalyze the dismutation of the free radical superoxide and have efficacy in disease states, partly, mediated by superoxide, such as oxidative stress, cancer, and inflammation. The practical use of Superoxide dismutases in biological systems is problematic due to dif?culties associated with the systematic infection of protein. As a result, tremendous researches were made in this area in recent years on the rational design and synthesis of low molecular weight catalysts which mimic a natural SOD enzyme function. Low molecular weight mimics could have significant advantages over SOD enzymes such as lack of immunogenic response, longer half-life in the blood, improved access to cells and intercellular space, potential for oral delivery, and low costs. This review described the recent progress of superoxide dismutase mimics on the design, synthesis and application.

Key words: Superoxide dismutase; , Superoxide dismutase mimics; , Biological activity; , Reactive oxygen species