Cobinamide is a strong and versatile antioxidant that overcomes oxidative stress in cells, flies, and diabetic mice

Increased oxidative stress underlies a variety of diseases, including diabetes. Here, we show that the cobalamin/vitamin B₁₂ analog cobinamide is a strong and multifaceted antioxidant, neutralizing superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite, with apparent rate constants of 1.9 × 10⁸, 3.7 × 10⁴, and 6.3 × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1, respectively, for cobinamide with the cobalt in the +2 oxidation state. Cobinamide with the cobalt in the +3 oxidation state yielded apparent rate constants of 1.1 × 10⁸ and 8.0 × 10² M^-1 s^-1 for superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, respectively. In mammalian cells and Drosophila melanogaster, cobinamide outperformed cobalamin and two well-known antioxidants, imisopasem manganese and manganese(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin, in reducing oxidative stress as evidenced by: (i) decreased mitochondrial superoxide and return of the mitochondrial membrane potential in rotenone- and antimycin A-exposed H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes; (ii) reduced JNK phosphorylation in hydrogen-peroxide-treated H9c2 cells; (iii) increased growth in paraquat-exposed COS-7 fibroblasts; and (iv) improved survival in paraquat-treated flies. In diabetic mice, cobinamide administered in the animals' drinking water completely prevented an increase in lipid and protein oxidation, DNA damage, and fibrosis in the heart. Cobinamide is a promising new antioxidant that has potential use in diseases with heightened oxidative stress.