Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants: A Step towards Disease Treatment

Table 1

TPP-linked MTAs.

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants	Bioactive component	Linker	Effects	Reference
MitoE	Vitamin E	2-Carbon aliphatic linker	(1) Minimized lipid peroxidation and protected cells from oxidative damage; (2) Eliminated H2O2-induced oxidative stress and caspase activation in cells; (3) Accumulated in tissues (heart, brain, muscle, liver, and kidney) and protected tissues from oxidative damage	[28, 30]
Mito-vitamin E derivation	Vitamin E	11-Alkyl linker	(1) Inhibited energy metabolism and promote cell death; (2) Antitumor properties	[31, 32]
SkQ1; SkQR1	Plastoquinone	10-Alkyl linker	(1) Minimized lipid peroxidation and ROS-induced apoptosis; (2) Beneficial roles in many diseases including aging, stroke, myocardial infarction, sarcopenia, dry eye syndrome, vascular inflammation	[33, 34]
MitoQ	Coenzyme Q	10-Alkyl linker	(1) Penetrated the mitochondrial membrane and inhibited lipid peroxidation; (2) Beneficial roles in animal models of alcoholic fatty liver, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia-reperfusion, hypertension, sepsis, and kidney damage in type I diabetes	[35, 36]
MitoC MitoVitC11	Vitamin C	Thioalkyl linker	(1) Prevented mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and protected mitochondrial aconitase; (2) Scavenged O^2–, peroxyl radicals, and Fe^3+ and could be rapidly recycled to the active ascorbate moiety	[37]
MitoSOD	M40403	Thioalkyl linker	(1) Regulated the mitochondrial redox system to convert ROS; (2) Reversed the rapid and progressive inhibition of aconitase through redox cycling; (3) Retained Mn^2+ under nonacidic conditions	[38, 39]

Notes: ΔΨm: mitochondrial membrane potential; M40403: a macrocyclic Mn SOD mimetic system; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TPP: triphenylphosphonium.