Chelating agents and their metal chelates for treating free radical induced conditions

摘要

The invention provides the use of a compound of formula (I) or a metal chelate or salt thereof in the manufacture of a therapeutic agent for use in the treatment of prophylaxis of conditions resulting from the presence of free radicals in the human or non-human animal body (wherein in formula (I): each R¹ independently represents hydrogen or CH₂COR⁵; R⁵ represents hydroxy, optionally hydroxylated alkoxy, amino or alkylamido; each R² independently represents a group XYR⁶; X represents a bond, or a C_1-3 alkylene or oxoalkylene group optionally substituted by a group R⁷; Y represents a bond, an oxygen atom or a group NR⁶; R⁶ is a hydrogen atom, a group COOR⁸, an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl group optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from COOR⁸, CONR⁸₂, NR⁸₂, OR⁸, NR⁸, O, OP(O)(OR⁸)R⁷ and OSO₃M; R⁷ is hydroxy, an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl or aminoalkyl group; R⁸ is a hydrogen atom or an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl group; M is a hydrogen atom or one equivalent of a physiologically tolerable cation; R³ represents a C_1-8 alkylene group, a 1,2-cycloalkylene group, or a 1,2-arylene group; and each R⁴ independently represents hydrogen or C_1-3alkyl). Such compounds are particularly effective in relieving symptoms associated with reperfusion of ischemic tissue and in treating or preventing radiation-induced injury.