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Related Concept Videos

Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Radical Autoxidation01:20

Radical Autoxidation

The oxidation of an organic compound in the presence of air or oxygen is called autoxidation. For example, cumene reacts with oxygen to form hydroperoxide. Autoxidation involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Many organic compounds are susceptible to autoxidation—especially ethers in the presence of oxygen, which form hydroperoxides. Even though this reaction is slow, old ether bottles contain small amounts of peroxide, which leads to laboratory explosions during ether...
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: Organic Radicals01:17

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: Organic Radicals

Ideally, an unpaired electron shows a single peak in the EPR spectrum due to the transition between the two spin energy states. However, coupling interactions can occur between the spins of the unpaired electron and any neighboring spin-active nuclei. This hyperfine coupling results in hyperfine splitting, where the EPR signal is split into multiplets. The signals split into 2nI + 1 peaks, where n is the number of equivalent nuclei and I is the nuclear spin. These splitting patterns provide...
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones01:17

Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones

In the presence of oxidizing agents, phenols are oxidized to quinones. Quinones can be easily reduced back to phenols using mild reducing agents. The electron-donating hydroxyl group enhances the reactivity of the aromatic ring, enabling oxidation of the ring even in the absence of an α hydrogen.
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Electron Carriers01:24

Electron Carriers

Electron carriers can be thought of as electron shuttles. These compounds can easily accept electrons (i.e., be reduced) or lose them (i.e., be oxidized). They play an essential role in energy production because cellular respiration is contingent on the flow of electrons.
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...

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Corrigendum to Sex differences in the inhibition of γ-tocopherol metabolism by a single dose of dietary sesame oil in healthy subjects [Am J Clin Nutr 2008; 87: 1723-1729].

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
11:56

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells

Published on: April 11, 2014

Vitamin E, antioxidant and nothing more.

Maret G Traber1, Jeffrey Atkinson

  • 1Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6512, USA. maret.traber@oregonstate.edu

Free Radical Biology & Medicine
|June 15, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Alpha-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, functions primarily as a potent antioxidant. It protects cell membranes by scavenging peroxyl radicals, preserving polyunsaturated fatty acids and their signaling roles.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin E encompasses various forms with similar antioxidant capacities.
  • The body uniquely utilizes alpha-tocopherol, prompting investigation into its specific role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence supporting alpha-tocopherol's in vivo function.
  • To propose that alpha-tocopherol's primary role is as a peroxyl radical scavenger.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of in vivo studies on alpha-tocopherol.
  • Analysis of proposed signaling pathways regulated by alpha-tocopherol.

Main Results:

  • Alpha-tocopherol's key function is scavenging peroxyl radicals.
  • This action maintains the integrity and bioactivity of polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
11:56

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells

Published on: April 11, 2014

  • Observed signaling pathway regulations are likely linked to oxidative stress, not specific to alpha-tocopherol.

    • Conclusions:

    • Alpha-tocopherol's main biological function is acting as a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant.
    • It preserves membrane fluidity and lipid domains by protecting polyunsaturated fatty acids.
    • The diverse biological activities of vitamin E can be explained by its role in membrane protection.