ARTYKUŁ

Joanna Kołodziejczyk, Anna Górka, Barbara Wachowicz

Tokoferole i tokotrienole – biologiczne działanie witaminy E
2011-12-21

Tocopherols and tocotrienols – biological activity of vitamin E

Vitamin E is the collective term for eight homologs of naturally occurring tocochromanols: tocopherols and tocotrienols. These lipophilic compounds have been classified in regard to various positions of methyl group (α– β– γ– δ-tocopherols and α-β-γ-δ-tocotrienols) and different types of side chain (saturated tocopherols and unsaturated tocotrienols). Vitamin E was originally recognized as a fertility factor, and the further studies showed new biological properties of these compounds. Currently, vitamin E is considered to be the main antioxidant in the protection of lipids, including membrane lipids, fatty tissue and plasma lipoproteins. Vitamin E possesses anti-inflammatory properties and modulates the activity of many enzymes, including enzymes of the intercellular signal transduction. It has been found that vitamin E plays an important role in the protection of cardiovascular system. The anticancer properties of vitamin E still remain controversial; however some of its homologs are investigated as promising compounds for the use in the treatment of cancers. The present article shortly reviews the available data on the biological activity of tocopherols and tocotrienols.
Keywords: vitamin E, tocopherols, tocotrienols, antioxidant.
© Farm Pol, 2011, 67(12): 817-822