The generation of superoxide is an unavoidable consequence of aerobic metabolism and all aerobes require methods to detoxify it for survival. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes are the most common way aerobes detoxify superoxide. In humans, a number of pathologies involve the overproduction of superoxide through inflammatory pathways. A large number of animal models of disease have shown that genetically engineered mice, which lack SODs are more sensitive and those that over express SODs are resistant. These findings have spurred research to develop small antioxidant compounds with SOD activity as therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the recent development of cationic metalloÂporphyrins as catalytic antioxidants with potent SOD activity and on their utility in animal models of human diseases.