ROS scavenging of SOD/CAT mimics probed by EPR and reduction of lipid peroxidation in S. cerevisiae and mouse liver, under severe hydroxyl radical stress condition

The interaction between CuII, FeIII and MnII complexes, derived from the ligands 1-[bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)amino]-3-chloropropan-2-ol (hpclnol) and bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)amine (bpma), and the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl (DPPH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), was investigated by colorimetric and EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) techniques. A comparison between these results and those reported to [Mn(salen)Cl] or EUK-8 was also addressed. EPR studies allowed us the identification of intermediates species such as superoxide‑copper(I) and superoxide‑copper(II), a mixed-valence FeIIIFeII species and a 16-line feature attributed to MnIII-oxo-MnIV species. The biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by TBARS assay in S. cerevisiae cells, and the determination of the IC50 indicate that the antioxidant activity shown dependence on the metal center (CuII ≈ FeIII > MnII ≈ [Mn(salen)Cl]. The lipid peroxidation attenuation was also investigated in liver homogenates obtained from Swiss mice and the IC50 values were in the nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrated here that all the complexes interact with the free radical DPPH and with ROS (H2O2, O2•- and hydroxyl radical), enhancing the cellular protection against oxidative stress generated by hydroxyl radical, employing two experimental model systems, S. cerevisiae (in vivo) and mouse liver (ex vivo). [Display omitted] •Antioxidant activities toward ROS of FeIII, CuII and MnII complexes are presented.•A novel trinuclear manganese(II) complex is described, attested by ESI(+)-MS.•The order for IC50 values, obtained by EPR, toward .OH is: complexes > EUK-8.•Complexes protect mouse liver from lipid peroxidation, in nanomolar concentration.•Complexes protect S. cerevisiae from lipid peroxidation, in micromolar concentration.