| superoxides | <chemical> Highly reactive compounds produced when oxygen is reduced by a single electron. In biological systems, they may be generated during the normal catalytic function of a number of enzymes and during the oxidation of haemoglobin to methemoglobin. In living organisms, superoxide dismutase protects the cell from the deleterious effects of superoxide. Chemical name: Superoxide (12 Dec 1998) |
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