Use of N-arylmethylene ethylenediaminetriacetates N-arylmethylene iminodiacetates or N,N'-diarylmethylene ethylenediamineacetates against oxidative stress

Compound of formula (I):

• ##STR18## in which Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.3, independently of one another, represent NO.sub.2, COOH, CF.sub.3, a halogen atom or an R.sub.1, OR.sub.1, SR.sub.1 or NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 group,
• Z.sub.4 represents an R.sub.1 group;
• where R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently of one another, represent H or a linear or branched C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl group,
• X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 represent:
• ##STR19## Z.sub.5 represents:
• the group:
• ##STR20## in which Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3, Z.sub.4, X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the same meanings as above;
• with the proviso that, when Z.sub.5 denotes the group (c) in which Z.sub.4 denotes H, at least one of Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.3 is other than H when Z.sub.2 denotes H, Cl, NO.sub.2 or CH.sub.3 and Z.sub.3 is not H when Z.sub.1 denotes OH and Z.sub.2 denotes OCH.sub.3 ;
• or its salts or metal complexes.