Antioxidant Behaviors of Vitamin E Analogues in Unilamellar Vesicles

Abstract

The antioxidant behaviors of vitamin E and its analogues, 2, 2, 5, 7, 8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychroman and 1, 2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-2'-(hydroxyethyl)-2', 5', 7', 8'-tetramethyl-6'-hydroxychroman, were studied in unilamellar vesicles. The two analogues scavenged aqueous radicals generated from azo compounds more efficiently than vitamin E. On the other hand, vitamin E scavenged the lipid peroxyl radicals preferentially. It is concluded that the superior antioxidant activity of vitamin E is attributed to its location suitable for breaking the chain propagation reaction.