Oxidative degradation of alpha-tocopherol by reactive oxygen species, identifying products, and product anticancer activity.

ABSTRACT: α-Tocopherol (α-TQ) is a potent antioxidant with diverse applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is susceptible to oxidation by various reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study first identifies the oxidation product of α-tocopherol produced by either H₂O₂ or HOCl, which could be formed in foods and biological systems. Second, the kinetic and mechanistic aspects of these oxidation reactions are characterized. Finally, the anticancer activity of α-TQ and its oxidation products was revealed. The direct oxidation product is α-tocopheryl quinone (α-TQQ), which dimerizes through an ether linkage and undergoes addition reactions. LC-MS/MS identified new products, primarily including positional and diastereoisomers of α-TQQ dimers resulting from H₂

SUBMITTER: Ali HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12619437 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature