Oxidation by superoxide of tocopherols dispersed in aqueous media with deoxycholate.

alpha-Tocopherol dispersed in aqueous media with deoxycholate was found to be oxidized, at a physiological pH, by a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. This reaction was completely inhibited by the addition of superoxide dismutase, whereas catalase and mannitol (scavenger of hydroxyl radical) did not affect the reaction. This finding indicates that the oxidation of alpha-tocopherol is caused by O2. The reaction product formed was identified as 8 alpha-hydroxy-alpha-tocopherone by thin-layer chromatography and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The product was found to change spontaneously to alpha-tocopherol quinone. beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol dispersed with deoxycholate also reacted with O2. The reaction of tocopherols dispersed in the micellar form may be considered as a model of in vivo reaction of tocopherols, since tocopherols are present in tissues largely in the membranes, where O2 is known to be generated.