Studies on vitamin E. 3. The relative activities of tocopherols and some other substances in vivo and in vitro against dialuric acid-induced haemolysis of erythrocytes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The potencies in vitro and in vivo of 8 tocols and 2 other naturally occurring tocopherols in preventing dialuric acid-induced hemolysis in rat erythrocytes have been studied, and some observations made on the relationship between structure and activity. The potencies in vitro cannot be clearly related to structure, although it appears that the presence of methyl groups ortho to the hydroxyl group in the tocol structure enhances activity somewhat. Hydrogen-bonding, as postulated by Voth and Miller (1958), would not seem to account sufficiently for the differences in potency. In vivo, the dimethyl compounds all have considerably greater activity than the monomethyltocols. The activities of a number of other substances in the test have been recorded. The Co2+, Mn2+, Sn2+, CrO42- and Cr2O72- ions have been found to be active in preventing hemolysis in vitro and the action of these ions is additive to that of o[alpha]-tocopherol. With Co2+ and Mn2+ ions the combined effect is so great as to suggest synergism. The Zn2+, Cu2+, Cu22+ , La3+, Cr3+, Cd2+, MnO42-, AuCl4- and SeO32- ions antagonize the action of [alpha]-tocopherol.