[Effect of lateral wick chain of tocopherols on oxidative reactions in lipids]

An injection of a alpha-tocopherol and analog devoid of the lateral chain (C1) at a dose of 90 mg/kg of body weight to experimental animals increases the levels of natural antioxidants and lipid oxidation in mouse liver 4- and 4.5-fold, respectively. The effects of alpha-tocopherol on the lipids possessing a high antiradical activity and containing the lateral chain and that of its analog, C1, also possessing a high antiradical activity but devoid of the lateral chain, were compared. The similarity of alpha-tocopherol and its analog effects on the lipids can be due to their antiradical properties. The degree of this effect is, however, different, which can be accounted for by possible fixation of the molecular in the membrane due to the presence of the lateral chain and a resulting increase of antioxidant concentration in the lipids.