Interpretation of the Cytostatic Properties of Sodium Morpholyldithiocarbamate, a Chelating Agent

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00817269

The antioxidant properties of sodium morpholyldithiocarbamate (MorDTC) were studied in order to contribute to the interpretation of its antitumor activity and synergetic effect over cis-platinum.MorDTC inhibits pyrogallol autooxidation better than vitamin C but does not dismutate the superoxide radical generated by the xanthine - xanthine oxidase system.Nevertheless, the complexes formed in situ between MorDTC and Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) to dismutate the superoxide radical with a SOD-like activity (SOD = superoxide dismutase), expressed in terms of IC 50 values within the range of 3.2 to 62 μM.The highest activity corresponds to Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes.The possible inhibitory action of MorDTC on erythrocyte SOD was also studied in vitro; however, the results were negative.Therefore, MorDTC should dismulate the superoxide radical after chelating metals without inhibiting SOD, the enzyme playing this role in vivo. - Keywords: Dithiocarbamates; SOD inhibition; SOD mimic