Abstract: Novel dialkylhydroxybenzoic acid derivatives containing metal chelating groups are disclosed. The novel compounds are used as therapeutics for treating and/or preventing various medical dysfunctions and diseases arising from reactive oxygen species and/or excess Zn ions, in particular stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease. The compounds have not only low toxicity but also similar or superior LPO inhibition activity to references. They also effectively inhibit the cerebral neuronal cell death by ROS and/or zinc ion, and show neuroprotective effects against ischemic neuronal degeneration.