Kiyoshi KikuchiNobuyuki TakeshigeNaoki MiuraYoko MorimotoTakashi ItoSalunya TancharoenKei MiyataChiemi KikuchiNarumi IidaHisaaki UchikadoNaohisa MiyagiNaoto ShiomiTerukazu KuramotoIkuro MaruyamaMotohiro MoriokaKo Ichi KawaharaYame Public HospitalKurume University School of MedicineKagoshima UniversityKagoshima University Faculty of MedicineMahidol UniversityNishida Koutoku HospitalKohjin Co., LtdSaiseikai Shiga HospitalOmuta City General HospitalOsaka Institute of Technology2018-06-112018-06-112012-01-01Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. Vol.3, No.1 (2012), 3-817921015179209812-s2.0-84855364396https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/13869Free 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.Mahidol UniversityBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyImmunology and MicrobiologyReviewSCOPUS10.3892/etm.2011.352