Methods and compositions for preventing and treating electrophile-mediated toxicities

1. A method of reducing the incidence of or treating electrophilic hepatotoxicity due to a therapeutic agent that can cause electrophilic metabolite hepatotoxicity in a subject receiving the therapeutic agent comprising administering to the subject a compound of formula (I) in an amount effective to scavenge the electrophilic metabolite and reduce the incidence of or reduce electrophilic hepatotoxicity due to the therapeutic agent, wherein the compound has the structure:

wherein

R 1 and R 2 are independently H or alkyl or form a 5- or 6-membered ring that optionally contains one or more O, S, N or substituted N, where substitution at N is an alkyl or acyl group;

X is COR 3 ;

R 3 is H, alkyl, alkoxy alkyl, acyloxy alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, acyloxy aryl, cyclic, polycyclic, heterocyclic, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, acyloxy heteroaryl, or trifluoromethyl;

wherein any alkyl can independently be branched or unbranched;

wherein any aryl or heteroaryl can independently be optionally substituted with one or more —CH3, —NH2, —OH, ═O, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, aryl and/or acyloxyaryl;

or a tautomer thereof; or a geometric or optical isomer thereof; or racemate thereof;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein the electrophilic metabolite is a soft electrophilic metabolite, an unsaturated carbonyl derivative, an unsaturated aldehyde derivative, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), p-benzoquinone, or combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is acetaminophen, diclofenac, cyclophosphamide, valproic acid, clopidogrel, esomeprazole, cisplatin, a platinum containing antineoplastic agent, or radiation used in radiation therapy.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered to the subject at the same time that the therapeutic agent is administered to the subject.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound and the therapeutic agent are administered in the same formulation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered to the subject before the therapeutic agent is administered to the subject or wherein the compound is administered to the subject after the therapeutic agent is administered to the subject.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered by parenteral administration or wherein the compound is formulated with an enteric coating and the compound is administered by oral administration.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound has the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein any alkyl is independently C1-C6 alkyl.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein any alkyl is independently C1-C3 alkyl.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound has the structure:

or a tautomer thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.