Antioxidant behaviors of vitamin E analogues in unilamellar vesicles.

The antioxidant behaviors of vitamin E and its analogues, 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychroman and 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero3-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.