Effect of Trolox, a synthetic analog of alpha-tocopherol, on cytotoxicity induced by UV irradiation and antioxidants.

The addition of Trolox, a synthetic analog of alpha-tocopherol, significantly reduced the cytotoxicity induced by UV irradiation and antioxidants, such as ascorbate, gallate and caffeate. Ascorbate and gallate, but not UV irradiation, stimulated the oxidation of methionine to methionine sulfoxide in the culture medium, possibly because of their prooxidant actions. Trolox slightly, but significantly reduced the methionine oxidation. On the other hand, alpha-tocopherol showed a much lower protective effect against ascorbate and gallate-induced cytotoxicity, and failed to reduce the methionine oxidation induced by these agents. ESR spectroscopy showed that both Trolox and alpha-tocopherol did not significantly change the radical intensity of ascorbate and gallate. The present study suggests that the antioxidative efficacy of Trolox surpasses that of alpha-tocopherol.