Interaction of phosphatidylcholine and α-tocopherol on the oxidation of sunflower oil and content changes of phosphatidylcholine and tocopherol in the emulsion under singlet oxygen.

Interaction of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and α-tocopherol (α-Toc) on the oxidation of oil in the emulsion consisting of sunflower oil and water under singlet oxygen at 25 °C was studied by determining peroxide value (PV) and conjugated dienoic acid (CDA) contents. Singlet oxygen was produced by chlorophyll b under 1700 lux. Single addition of PC or α-Toc decreased the values of peroxides and CDAs of oil in the emulsion via singlet oxygen quenching. PC and α-Toc showed simply additive interaction in decreasing the singlet oxygen oxidation of oil in the emulsion. α-Toc was a physical quencher of singlet oxygen in the emulsion, but PC involved chemical quenching in the antioxidant action. Chlorophyll and PC contents were decreased in the emulsion under singlet oxygen, while α-Toc was not. α-Toc protected chlorophyll and PC from degradation, and was a more important component than PC in the oil oxidation under singlet oxygen in the emulsion.