Biological Antioxidants [and Discussion]

The mechanism of lipid peroxidation and the ways in which the rate of this reaction can be reduced by small quantities of certain specific chemicals, called antioxidants, are described. The types and roles of the different antioxidants found in living systems are considered. Vitamin E ($\alpha$-toco...

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Published inPhilosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological sciences Vol. 311; no. 1152; pp. 565 - 578
Main Authors Burton, G W, Foster, D O, Perly, B, Slater, T F, Smith, I C, Ingold, K U
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England The Royal Society 17.12.1985
Subjects
Antioxidants
Ascorbic Acid
beta Carotene
Carotenoids
Free Radicals
Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism
Kinetics
Lipid Bilayers
Lipids
Oxidation-Reduction
Peroxides
Phenols
Phospholipids
Vitamin E
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Summary:The mechanism of lipid peroxidation and the ways in which the rate of this reaction can be reduced by small quantities of certain specific chemicals, called antioxidants, are described. The types and roles of the different antioxidants found in living systems are considered. Vitamin E ($\alpha$-tocopherol) has long been recognized as an important lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant. It has an unexpectedly high reactivity towards peroxyl radicals, which can be understood only after detailed consideration of its structure. It is the major antioxidant of its class in human blood and its effectiveness in plasma is greatly improved by a synergistic interaction with water-soluble reducing agents such as ascorbic acid. Experiments designed to locate vitamin E within phospholipid bilayers and to discover the origin of the different biopotencies of stereoisomers of $\alpha$-tocopherol are also described.
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ISSN:0962-8436
1471-2970
DOI:10.1098/rstb.1985.0164