Antioxidative properties of copper(II) complexes

Eleven copper(II) complexes with amino acids, salicylate, 2, 2'-phenanthroline, ethylenediamine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dithiocarbamates, and thiosemicarbazones were studied as scavengers of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. These two radicals exist in biological systems and play an important role in oxidative stress. The complexes with the first three ligands are pro-oxidants. On the contrary, the bis(dithiocarbamato)copper(II) complexes are the most active against the studied radicals.