Effects of alpha- and gamma-tocopherols on the autooxidation of purified sunflower triacylglycerols

Evaluation of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Origanum dictamnus extracts before and after encapsulation in liposomes

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanol or dichloromethane extracts of O. dictamnus, produced from wild and organic cultivated specimens, were determined. The Rancimat and malondialdehyde (MDA) by HPLC methods were used to measure the antioxidant action, in comparison with that of the common commercial antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and alpha-tocopherol. The extracts that presented high antioxidant activity were encapsulated in liposomes and their antioxidant action was again estimated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermaloxidative decomposition of the samples (pure liposomes and encapsulated extracts) and the modification of the main transition temperature for the lipid mixture and the splitting of the calorimetric peak in the presence of the antioxidants were also studied by the DSC method. All extracts showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Their action proved superior to alpha-tocopherol. The methanol extract of organic cultivated O. dictamnus (240 ppm) showed higher activity than butylated hydroxytoluene. After encapsulation in liposomes the antioxidant as well as antimicrobial activities proved to be higher than those of the same extracts in pure form.

Molecular mechanism of antioxidant synergism of tocotrienols and carotenoids in palm oil

During repeated deep-fat frying of potato slices at 163 degrees C in yellow or red palm olein of comparable fatty acid profiles, the oxidative stability (peroxide value and anisidine value) of the palm oleins was similar, and in yellow palm olein, the rate of antioxidant depletion decreased in the order gamma-T3 > alpha-T3 > delta-T3 (T3, tocotrienol). In red palm olein, which had a total tocopherol/tocotrienol content of 1260 vs 940 ppm in yellow palm olein and a corresponding longer induction period in the Rancimat stability test at 120 degrees C, only depletion of gamma-T3 was significant among the phenols during frying and slower as compared to that in yellow palm olein. The carotenes in the red palm olein were depleted linearly with the number of fryings, apparently yielding an overall protection of the phenols. In antioxidant-depleted palm olein and in phospholipid liposomes with added increasing concentrations of phenols, gamma-T3 was found to be a better antioxidant than alpha-T3. alpha-T3 and alpha-T (T, tocopherol) had a similar antioxidant effect in antioxidant-depleted palm olein in the Rancimat stability test, while in the liposomes the ordering as determined by induction period for the formation of conjugated dienes was gamma-T3 > alpha-T3 > alpha-T. The addition of 100-1000 ppm beta-carotene to antioxidant-depleted palm olein or liposomes (lycopene also tested) did not provide any protection against oxidation. In the liposomes, synergistic interactions were observed between beta-carotene or lycopene and alpha-T, alpha-T3, or gamma-T3 for carotene/phenol ratios of 1:10 and 1:2 but not for 1:1. In chloroform, carotenes were regenerated by tocopherols/tocotrienols from carotene radicals generated by laser flash photolysis as shown by transient absorption spectroscopy, suggesting that carotenes rather than phenols are the primary substrate for lipid-derived radicals in red palm olein, in effect depleting carotenes prior to phenols during frying. Regeneration of carotenes by the phenols also explains the synergism in liposomes. In the laser flash photolysis experiments, gamma-T3 was also found to be faster in regenerating carotenes than alpha-T3 and alpha-T.

Gamma-tocopherol--an underestimated vitamin?

The main research activities of the last decades on tocopherols were mainly focused on alpha-tocopherol, in particular when considering the biological activities. However, recent studies have increased the knowledge on gamma-tocopherol, which is the major form of vitamin E in the diet in the USA, but not in Europe. gamma-Tocopherol provides different antioxidant activities in food and in-vitro studies and showed higher activity in trapping lipophilic electrophiles and reactive nitrogen and oxygen species. The lower plasma levels of gamma- compared to alpha-tocopherol might be discussed in the light of different bioavailability, but also in a potential transformation from gamma- into alpha-tocopherol. From the metabolism end product, only that of gamma-tocopherol (2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(beta-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman), but not that of alpha-tocopherol, was identified to provide natriuretic activity. Studies also indicate that only the gamma-tocopherol plasma level served as biomarker for cancer and cardiovascular risk. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review on gamma-tocopherol with emphasis on its chemistry, biosynthesis, occurrence in food, different intake linking to different plasma levels in USA and Europe, absorption and metabolism, biological activities, and possible role in human health.

Effects of alpha-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherols on the autoxidation of purified rapeseed oil triacylglycerols in a system containing low oxygen

Controversial data on the antioxidant effects of tocopherols have already been shown in different test systems, yet delta-tocopherol was hardly considered. This study was designed to assess the effects and degradation of alpha-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol in four concentrations from between 0.01 and 0.25% on the oxidation of purified rapeseed oil trigacylglycerols (RO-TAG) at 40 degrees C in the dark in a low oxygen containing system for 11 weeks. Oxidation experiments were performed weekly by assessing primary (peroxide value, PV; conjugated dienes, CD) and secondary (p-anisidine reactive products, p-AV; hexanal) oxidation products, the degree of unsaturation with the iodine value (IV), and the stability of tocopherols. Test approaches were performed with and without the addition of 0.01% alpha,alpha'-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN), which is a known radical initiator. alpha- and gamma-Tocopherols increased the rate of lipid oxidation, which was more pronounced in the presence of AIBN. Only the lowest amount of 0.01% gamma-tocopherol was comparable to the control sample in the test without AIBN. The most effective was shown to be delta-tocopherol, which did not elevate lipid oxidation except the PV in the AIBN test, but they did not delay it either. delta-Tocopherol was the most stable followed by gamma- and alpha-tocopherol. For alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, but not for delta-tocopherol, strong correlations were found between the tocopherol degradation and the extent of oxidation. Results suggest that (i). at concentrations higher than 0.05%, tocopherols are less efficient and turn their mode of action or participate in side reactions in RO-TAG and (ii). delta-tocopherol was shown to be the most stable and effective under these low oxygen conditions.

Modeling of alpha-tocopherol loss and oxidation products formed during thermoxidation in triolein and tripalmitin mixtures

The degradation of alpha-tocopherol and the formation of alpha-tocopherol and triacylglycerol oxidation products at high temperatures (150-250 degrees C) over a heating period (0-4 h) for a model system ranging between triolein and tripalmitin were modeled by use of an experimental design. The oxidation products of alpha-tocopherol formed under these conditions were alpha-tocopherolquinone (1 .4-7.7%) and epoxy-alpha-tocopherolquinones (4.3-34.8%). The results indicate a very high susceptibility of alpha-tocopherol to capture peroxyl radicals upon oxidation, leading to the formation of polar tocopherol oxidation products. Both alpha-tocopherolquinone and epoxy-alpha-tocopherolquinones were not stable upon prolonged heating and were further degraded to other unknown oxidation products. The kinetics of alpha-tocopherol oxidation were significantly influenced by the triolein/tripalmitin ratio. By increasing the level of triacylglycerol unsaturation the rate of alpha-tocopherol recovery after heating increased significantly from 2.2 to 44.2% whereas in the meantime triacylglycerol polymerization increased from 0 to 3.7%.

DNA strand breakage and oxygen tension: effects of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid

DNA damage is involved in carcinogenesis, aging and other degenerative diseases. The relationship between DNA strand breakage and beta-carotene (0.1-1.6 microM) was examined under different O(2) tensions and with other antioxidants: alpha-tocopherol (5-80 microM), ascorbic acid (10-160 microM) and mixtures of these antioxidants. Supercoiled plasmid DNA pBR322 was incubated with 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) to induce DNA strand breaks in the presence of antioxidants under 15, 150, and 760 torr of O(2) tension. Under 15 torr of O(2) tension, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and mixtures of these antioxidants provided a dose-dependent protection against AAPH-induced DNA strand breaks. The best protection was achieved in the mixture of antioxidants. Under 150 torr of oxygen tension, the antioxidant effect of beta-carotene was diminished at > or = 0.8 microM. A prooxidant effect was found at 0.8 > or = microM beta-carotene, producing more single- and double-strand breaks. alpha-Tocopherol and ascorbic acid exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant effects at 150 torr of oxygen tension. Under 760 torr of O(2) tension, the prooxidant effect of 0.8 microM beta-carotene was significant, causing supercoiled DNA to completely breakdown to circular and linear forms. In addition, 760 torr of O(2) tension attenuated the antioxidant effects of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid. Thus, beta-carotene causes concentration-dependent DNA breakdown at high O(2) tension. The protection of DNA from the prooxidant effects of beta-carotene afforded by alpha-tocopherol and/or ascorbic acid was limited at high O(2) tension.

On the role of squalene in olive oil stability

The role of squalene in olive oil stability was studied for various concentrations and experimental conditions. No effect was found in induction periods of olive oil at elevated temperatures using the Rancimat apparatus. Samples were then stored at 40 and 62 degrees C in the dark, and the extent of oxidation was followed by periodic measurements of peroxide value and conjugated dienes. A concentration dependent moderate antioxidant activity was evidenced which was stronger in the case of olive oil compared to that found for sunflower oil and lard. In the presence of alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg) and caffeic acid (10 mg/kg) the contribution of squalene (7000 mg/kg) was not significant. No radical scavenging activity was observed using DPPH(*) in 2-propanol. The weak antioxidant activity of squalene in olive oil may be explained by competitive oxidation of the different lipids present which leads to a reduction of the oxidation rate. Squalene plays a rather confined role in olive oil stability even at low temperatures.