title: Beyond free radical scavenging: Beneficial effects of edaravone (Radicut) in various diseases (Review).
abstract: Free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases; thus, they are an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in these diseases. Compounds capable of scavenging free radicals have been developed for this purpose and some, developed for the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke, have progressed to clinical trials. One such scavenger, edaravone, is used to treat patients within 24 h of stroke. Edaravone, which can diffuse into many disease-affected organs, also shows protective effects in the heart, lung, intestine, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and testis. As well as scavenging free radicals, edaravone has anti-apoptotic, anti-necrotic and anti-cytokine effects in various diseases. Here, we critically review the literature on its clinical efficacy and examine whether edaravone should be considered a candidate for worldwide development, focusing on its effects on diseases other than cerebral infarction. Edaravone has been safely used as a free radical scavenger for more than 10 years; we propose that edaravone may offer a novel treatment option for several diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yame Public General Hospital, Yame 834-0034;
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
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authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
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authors.lastname: Takeshige
authors.forename: Naoki
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authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Takashi
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authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Salunya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tancharoen
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Chiemi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Narumi
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authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Hisaaki
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authors.lastname: Uchikado
authors.forename: Naohisa
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authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Naoto
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authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: Terukazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuramoto
authors.forename: Ikuro
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authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Motohiro
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authors.lastname: Morioka
authors.forename: Ko-Ichi
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kawahara