Structural Basis for Biological Activities of Dimethyl Sulfoxide,

In summary, the role of DMSO in reacting with free radicals has been repeatedly emphasized in numerous publications dealing with tumor-inhibition as well as protection against radiation damage to cellular materials. Its ability to react with hydroxyl radicals has also been demonstrated adequately. However, what has not been demonstrated is whether all of such reactions lead to the formation of methane or formaldehyde or methyl radicals or peroxymethyl radicals under all circumstances. It is also not quite clear whether DMSO annihilates hydroxyl radicals by a radical-quenching pathway, or by its reaction with hydroxyl radicals, it produces other free radicals which can multiply the number of ways the original free radical species can interact with cellular components. There appears to be a clear and immediate need for characterizing the products of the reaction of DMSO with hydroxyl radicals.