Tocopherols molecular structure

Among the plant phenols, the flavonoids and the anthocyanidins, belonging to the 1,3-diphenylpropans, have been studied in most detail, mainly because of their potential health benefits. With more than 4,000 different flavonoids known, systematic studies of the effects of variation in molecular structure on physico-chemical properties of importance for antioxidative effects have also been possible (Jovanovic et al, 1994 Seeram and Nair, 2002). Flavonoids were originally found not to behave as efficiently as the classic phenolic antioxidants like a-tocopherol and synthetic phenolic antioxidants in donating... 

Figure 14. Molecular structure of tocopherols found in soybean oil.

Parth M, Aust N, Lederer K. Studies on the effect of electron beam radiation on the molecular structure of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene under the influence of alpha-tocopherol with respect to its application in medical implants. J Mater Sci-Mater Med 2002 13(10) 917-21. 

The structure of vitamin E in its most active form, o-tocopherol, is shown in Figure 18.38. a-Tocopherol is a potent antioxidant, and its function in animals and humans is often ascribed to this property. On the other hand, the molecular details of its function are almost entirely unknown. One possible role for... 

Darenthin, molecular formula and structure, 5 96t Dark chocolate, 6 361 minerals content, 6 371t theobromine and caffeine content, 6 367t tocopherols, 6 370t typical formulation, 6 362t Dark conductivity ( D), of a-Si H, 22 ... 

Fig. 9.5 Chemical structures of low molecular weight antioxidants Melatonin (a) ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) (b) glutathione (c) lipoic acid (d) a-tocopherol (Vitamin E) (e) and a-tocotrienol (f)...

The separation of a, / , y and 5-tocopherols on LH-20 in chloroform was reported [205], separation being related to structure of the to-copherols and independent of molecular size. The correlations between the differences in conformation and elution behaviour of 2, 5 - and 3, 5 -dinucleoside monophosphates on LH-20 has been studied [206]. Separation of the dinucleoside monophosphates was apparently related to conformation which affected their adsorption to the LH-20. The different degrees of interaction of biogenic amines, aromatic amino acids, and phenylphrine with Bio-Gel P-2 were used to separate these species [207]. 

Collectively known as vitamin E, tocotrienols are identical in structure to tocopherols except for the degree of satmation in their side chain. The prenyl side chain of tocotrienol has been postulated to be responsible for the differential membrane distribution and metabolism of tocotrienols when compared with tocopherols. Fntnre investigations need to examine the molecular mechanism of action of tocotrienols in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of their complex bnt beneficial effects on cancer. 

Suzuki, Y.J., Tsuchiya, M., and Wassail, S.R., Structural and dynamic membrane properties of a-tocopherol and a-tocotrienol implications to the molecular mechanism of their antioxidant ipoteacy. Biochemistry, 32,10692-10696, 1993. 

Jin SS, Yu ZW, Yu YX (2009) Structural and kinetic properties of alpha-tocopherol in phospholipid bilayers, a molecular dynamics simulation smdy. J Phys Chem B 113 16537... 

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