Mechanism of inhibition of lipid peroxidation by tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen introduced into liposomes. Similarity to cholesterol and ergosterol.

The anticancer drug tamoxifen when introduced into phospholipid liposomes during their preparation inhibited Fe(III)-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation to a greater extent than similarly introduced cholesterol. Ergosterol was equipotent with tamoxifen, but much less effective than 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Possible mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed in relation to structural mimicry of the sterols by these triphenylethylene drugs as membrane stabilizers against lipid peroxidation.