Estrogens as natural antioxidants of membrane phospholipid peroxidation.

Estrogens, such as estrone, estradiol and estriol, were tested as possible antioxidants of lipid peroxidation induced by Fe3+-ADP-adriamycin or Fe3+-ADP-ascorbate. The estrogens with phenolic structure possessed substantial activities with respect to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Concentrations of estradiol and estriol required to achieve 50% inhibition of membrane phospholipid peroxidation were about 4- and 6-times that of alpha-tocopherol, respectively.