α‐, γ‐ and δ‐ Tocopherols as inhibitors of isomerization and decomposition of cis,trans methyl linoleate hydroperoxides

The effects of α‐, γ‐ and δ‐tocopherols on the stability and decomposition reactions of lipid hydroperoxides were studied. Isomerization and decomposition of cis,trans methyl linoleate hydroperoxides (cis,trans ML‐OOH) in hexadecane at 40 °C were followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Due to its higher hydrogen donating ability, α‐tocopherol was more efficient than γ‐ and δ‐tocopherols in inhibiting the isomerization of cis,trans ML‐OOH to trans,trans ML‐OOH. α‐Tocopherol stabilized hydroperoxides into the cis,trans configuration, whereas γ‐ and δ‐tocopherols allowed hydroperoxides to convert into trans,trans isomers. Thus, the biological importance of α‐tocopherol as compared to other tocopherols may be partly due to its better efficacy in protecting the cis,trans configuration of hydroperoxides formed, for example, in the enzymatic oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The isomeric configuration of hydroperoxides has an impact on biological activities of further oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Paradoxically, the order of activity of tocopherols with regard to hydroperoxide decomposition was different from that obtained for hydroperoxide isomerization. γ‐ and δ‐tocopherols were more efficient inhibitors of ML‐OOH decomposition when compared to α‐tocopherol. A loss of antioxidant efficiency, observed as the tocopherol concentration increased from 2 to 20 mM, was highest for α‐tocopherol but was also evident for γ‐ and δ‐tocopherols. Thus, the differences in the relative effects of tocopherols at differing concentrations seem to result from a compromise between their radical scavenging efficiency and participation in side reactions of peroxidizing nature.     

Concurrent oxidation of accumulated hydroperoxides in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate

Summary 1. Kinetic studies showed that concurrent oxidation of preformed hydroperoxides may be expected to take place at all stages of the autoxidation of methyl linoleate. The rate of oxidation relative to the rate of autoxidation of unoxidized ester is determined chiefly by the extent of the accumulation of hydroperoxides. 2. Infrared spectral analysis of hydroperoxides oxidized to various degrees indicated thattrans, trans diene conjugation and isolatedtrans double bonds produced in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate are related to the concurrent oxidation of the accumulated hydroperoxides. 3. The low absorptivity observed for diene conjugation, compared to that which may be expected for the exclusive production ofcis, trans diene conjugated hydroperoxide isomers during the autoxidation of methyl linoleate is attributed to the concurrent oxidation of accumulated hydroperoxides. 4. The effect of antioxidants in giving a well-defined induction period in the oxidation of hydroperoxides isolated from autoxidized methyl linoleate indicated that the oxidation proceeds by a chain reaction. 5. The primary reaction products of the oxidation of hydroperoxides isolated from autoxidized methyl linoleate were found to be polymers formed in a sequence of reaction involving the diene conjugation. 6. Studies on the autoxidation of methylcis-9,trans-11-linoleate showed thatcis, trans isomerization of the conjugated diene took place with the concurrent production of isolatedtrans double bonds and loss of diene conjugation. Hormel Institute publication no. 138. Presented before the American Oil Chemists’ Society, Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 10–12, 1955. This work was supported by a grant from the Hormel Foundation.     

Carotenoids as antioxidants to prevent photooxidation

Carotenoids act as antioxidants in photooxidation by quenching singlet oxygen or triplet sensitizer. The antioxidant activities of β‐carotene, lutein and lycopene during photooxidation were investigated by following the formation of methyl linoleate isomeric hydroperoxides. The hydroperoxide formation and the isomeric distribution were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography and post‐column detection with diphenyl‐1‐pyrenyl phosphine (DPPP). DPPP reacts with both the conjugated and nonconjugated hydroperoxides formed in photooxidation to give fluorescing DPPP‐oxides. Photooxidation with or without added β‐carotene, lutein and lycopene (10, 20 and 40 ppm) were carried out at +3 °C under 2000 lx. All the studied carotenoids were potential antioxidants during photooxidation and their antioxidant activities were concentration‐dependent. There were no significant differences in the antioxidant activities of lycopene and β‐carotene at a concentration of 10 ppm. At a concentration of 20 ppm β‐carotene was a better antioxidant than lycopene or lutein, and at a concentration of 40 ppm lycopene exerted a better antioxidant activity than β‐carotene or lutein. There were no significant differences between lycopene and lutein at a concentration of 20 ppm. The results also showed that carotenoids had no effect on the distribution of isomeric hydroperoxides indicating that the antioxidant mechanism of carotenoids during photooxidation does not involve hydrogen donation. All carotenoids were consumed during photooxidation. At a higher concentration (40 ppm) lycopene was more stable than the other tested carotenoids. That contributed most likely to it having a better antioxidant activity than β‐carotene and lutein.     

Kinetic study of β‐carotene and lutein degradation in oils during heat treatment

The kinetics of trans‐β‐carotene and trans‐lutein degradation were individually investigated in palm olein and Vegetaline®, at four temperatures ranging from 120 to 180 °C. HPLC‐DAD analysis was carried out to monitor trans and cis carotenoid variations over the heating time at each temperature. In both oils, initial trans‐β‐carotene and trans‐lutein degradation rates increased with temperature. Trans‐lutein was found to degrade at a slower rate than trans‐β‐carotene, suggesting a higher thermal resistance. The isomers identified were 13‐cis‐ and 9‐cis‐β‐carotene, and 13‐cis‐, 9‐cis‐, 13'‐cis‐, and 9'‐cis‐lutein. In spite of the higher number of lutein cis isomers, their total amount was lower than that of β‐carotene cis isomers. Trans and cis carotenoids were involved in degradation reactions at rates that increased with temperature. All degradation rates were generally found to be lower in Vegetaline® than in palm olein. These results were explained by the initial composition of the two oils and especially their peroxide and vitamin E contents.     

Physical State of β‐Carotene at High Concentrations in a Solid Triglyceride Matrix

The highly hydrophobic β‐carotene is often distributed or dissolved in triglycerides to enhance either nutritional or coloring effects. This study aims at elucidating the physical state of β‐carotene that at high concentrations are mixed into a solid high‐melting tri‐glyceride matrix by dissolution at high temperatures (165 °C) in the melted triglyceride. Extensive isomerization of β‐carotene is observed by HPLC after melting crystalline all‐trans β‐carotene and in the solid mixtures of β‐carotene and fully hydrogenated sunflower oil. Crystalline triglyceride is found in the mixed samples by XRPD analysis whereas no signs of crystalline lattice structures of β‐carotene are detected. DSC thermograms show only the melting and recrystallization events of triglycerides, which are affected by the presence of β‐carotene. Severe line broadening is observed in the ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra of the β‐carotene‐triglyceride mixtures when compared to crystalline β‐carotene, demonstrating the lack of long‐range order of the carotene. Altogether, the results demonstrate that β‐carotene is present as an amorphous mixture of trans‐ and cis‐isomers dispersed into a structure of crystalline triglyceride in the solid carotene‐triglyceride mixtures. Practical applications: The amorphous structure of trans‐ and cis‐isomers in solid formulations of β‐carotene‐triglyceride mixtures will strongly affect their functional properties related to nutrition and color as food ingredients.     

Effect of α-tocopherol on the volatile thermal decomposition products of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides

α-Tocopherol and 1,4-cyclohexadiene were tested for their effect on the thermal decomposition of methyl linoleate hydroperoxide isomers. The volatiles generated by thermolysis in the injector port of a gas chromatograph at 180°C were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. In the presence of either α-tocopherol or 1,4-cyclohexadiene, which are effective donors of hydrogen by radical abstraction, volatile formation decreased in all tests, and significant shifts were observed in the relative distribution of products in certain hydroperoxide samples. When an isomeric mixture of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides (cis, trans andtrans, trans 9- and 13-hydroperoxides) was decomposed by heat, the presence of α-tocopherol and 1,4-cyclohexadiene caused the relative amounts of pentane and methyl octanoate to decrease and hexanal and methyl 9-oxononanoate to increase. A similar effect of α-tocopherol was observed on the distribution of volatiles formed from a mixture of thetrans,trans 9- and 13-hydroperoxides. This effect of α-tocopherol was, however, insignificant with purecis,trans 13-hydroperoxide of methyl linoleate. The decrease in total volatiles with the hydrogen donor compounds, α-tocopherol and 1,4-cyclohexadiene, indicates a suppression of homolytic β-scission of the hydroperoxides, resulting in a change in relative distribution of volatiles. The increase in hexanal and methyl 9-oxononanoate at the expense of pentane and methyl octanoate in the presence of hydrogen donor compounds supports the presence of a heat-catalyzed heterolytic cleavage (also known as Hock cleavage), which seems to mainly affect thetrans,trans isomers of linoleate hydroperoxides.     

Hydroperoxide formation during autoxidation of conjugated linoleic acid methyl ester

The aim of this study was to investigate whether hydroperoxides are formed in the autoxidation of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) methyl ester both in the presence and absence of α‐tocopherol. The existence of hydroperoxide protons was confirmed by D₂O exchange and by chemoselective reduction of the hydroperoxide groups into hydroxyl groups using NaBH₄. These experiments were followed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The ¹³C and ¹HNMR spectra of a mixture of 9‐hydroper‐oxy‐10‐trans,12‐cis‐octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (9‐OOH) and 13‐hydroperoxy‐9‐cis, 11‐trans‐octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (13‐OOH), which are formed during the autoxidation of methyl linoleate, were studied in detail to allow the comparison between the two linoleate hydroperoxides and the CLA methyl ester hydroperoxides. The ¹³CNMR spectra of samples enriched with one of the two linoleate hydroperoxide isomers were assigned using 2D NMR techniques, namely Correlated Spectroscopy (COSY), gradient Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation (gHMBC), and gradient Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation (gHSQC). The ¹³C and ¹H NMR experiments performed in this study show that hydroperoxides are formed during the autoxidation of CLA methyl ester both in the presence and absence of α‐tocopherol and that the major isomers of CLA methyl ester hydroperoxides have a conjugated monohydroperoxydiene structure similar to that in linoleate hydroperoxides.     

Photochemical oxidation of fatty acid esters with and without chlorophyll

1. It has been confirmed that the principal products formed in the oxidation of methyl oleate by oxygen under a variety of conditions are predominantlytrans hydroperoxides. However no inversion of the double bond occurs in unoxidized oleate. Hence the conversion ofcis totrans double bonds and peroxide formation occur together in the same molecules.
2. The autoxidation of methyl linoleate at low temperature yields predominantlycis,trans conjugated hydroperoxides. Autoxidation at 25°C., oxidation catalyzed by visible light, or ultraviolet light and copper soap catalyzed oxidation at temperatures appreciably above 0°C., lead to the formation primarily oftrans,trans conjugated hydroperoxides. The inversion of the second double bond in this case appears to be independent of the peroxide-forming reactions.
3. The photochlorophyll oxidation of methyl linoleate leads to the formation of some unconjugated hydroperoxides, some of which containtrans double bonds.
4. Under all of the conditions employed in the present investigation, the oxidation of methyl oleate and linoleate led primarily to the formation of monomeric peroxides which retained most of the unsaturation of the parent compound.

     

Thermal decomposition of individual positional isomers of methyl linoleate hydroperoxide: Evidence of carbon-oxygen bond scission

The methyl ester of individual positional isomers of linoleate hydroperoxide were prepared by an enzymic oxidation of linoleate. On injection onto a gas chromatographic column they were thermally decomposed and the resulting volatile components analyzed. The major (67–80% yield on a molar basis) cleavage products were found to be hexanal, methyl octanoate, 2,4-decadienal isomers, and methyl 9-oxononanoate. Both the 9 and 13 isomers of linoleate hydroperoxide gave rise to these same four compounds, an observation suggesting carbon-oxygen scission in their decomposition. This was confirmed by using very pure individual isomers obtained by high performance liquid chromatography. The involvement of an isomerization reaction of the hydroperoxides is discussed.     

Oxidation of lipids: III. Oxidation of methyl linoleate in solution

The effects of oxygen pressure, substrate concentration and solvent on the rate and products of oxidation of methyl linoleate were studied at 50 C with azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. The absolute and quantitative numbers for oxygen uptake, substrate disappearance, and formation of conjugated diene and hydroperoxides were measured. Under the present conditions, 4 conjugated diene hydroperoxides, 13-hydroperoxy-9-cis, 11-trans-(2a), 13-hydroperoxy-9-trans, 11-trans-(3a), 9-hydroperoxy-10-trans, 12-cis-(4a), and 9-hydroperoxy-10-trans, 12-trans-(5a) octadecadienoic acid methyl esters, were formed almost quantitatively. The rate of oxidation decreased with decreasing oxygen pressure. However, the ratio ofcis,trans totrans,trans hydroperoxides, (2a+4a)/(3a+5a), was independent of oxygen pressure, and this ratio increased with increasing methyl linoleate concentration, as found recently by Porter. Further, the rate of oxidation and the ratio ofcis,trans/trans,trans hydroperoxides were dependent on solvent and increased with an increase in dielectric constant of solvent. A mechanism of methyl linoleate oxidation consistent with these results is discussed. Presented at the 15th Symposium on Oxidation Reactions, Nagoya, October 1981.     

Characterization of the effects of β‐carotene on the thermal oxidation of triacylglycerols using HPLC‐ESI‐MS

RP HPLC method coupled to ESI‐MS was used for the analysis and characterization of the oxidation of model triacylglycerols (TAGs) in presence of β‐carotene. β‐Carotene was added to the TAGs and oxidized in the Rancimat at 110°C. The samples were separated isocratically using a mixture of isopropanol with methanol and a Phenomenex C18 column. β‐Carotene degradation was measured using high performance TLC. We found that β‐carotene plays an important role during the thermal degradation of high oleic acid model TAGs. Half of the β‐carotene was degraded before 3 h of thermal treatment. β‐Carotene significantly increases the peroxide value of the TAGs after the third hour, suggesting a pro‐oxidant action. However, different TAGs show different activity toward thermal treatment and β‐carotene. The LLL was found to be less stable, OLL and OLO were stable till 10 and 12 h respectively, while POO, OOO, and OSO were the stable TAGs till 14 h. In TAGs, replacing linoleic acid by oleic acid, the stability of the corresponding TAG was found to increase by 2 h. A new class of oxidized TAGs was reported for the first time, together with previously reported species. The proposed mechanism of formation and identification of the newly identified species have been explained. Among the oxidized species of TAGs, mono‐hydroperoxides, bis‐hydroperoxides, epoxy‐epidioxides, and epoxides were the major compounds identified.     

Thermally induced formation of conjugated isomers of linoleic acid

Chemical pathways responsible of the conjugation of linoleic acid during heat treatments such as refining (deodorization), frying or cooking processes have been investigated. For this purpose, methyl linoleate was submitted to oxidative and non‐oxidative thermal conditions. The resulting degradation products were mainly composed of geometrical and conjugated fatty acid isomers. Oxidative conditions were obtained using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide under inert atmosphere, and air. The obtained results from both thermal oxidative conditions were compared to non‐oxidative thermal treatment. Higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid were found when linoleate was heated under oxidative conditions. Two distinct mechanisms responsible for the formation of CLA isomers are proposed and discussed. Evidence of formation of 9,11‐C18:2 and 10,12‐C18:2 acids from 9,12‐C18:2 by a free‐radical chain reaction is provided. The first step consists in the formation of a free radical by abstraction of an active bis‐allylic hydrogen. By delocalization of the initial free radical, two allylic free radicals were stabilized and converted into the corresponding CLA isomers via the abstraction of a hydrogen radical from other linoleic acid or oxygenated species. Kinetic observations confirmed the significance of the bimolecular mechanism. Moreover, the proposed mechanism is supported by several pieces of information from the literature on peroxidation of linoleic acid. Under pure thermal conditions and/or for diluted samples, a second pathway to the formation of CLA from heat‐treated linoleic acid is proposed via an intramolecular rearrangement of the pentadienyl structure. This thermal [1,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement results in a mixture of 9,11 and 10,12 CLA isomers. The formed cis/trans CLA isomers were readily rearranged by a [1,5]‐sigmatropic shift to yield trans‐8,cis‐10 and cis‐11,trans‐13 CLA isomers, respectively.     

Singlet oxygen oxidation of methyl linoleate: Isolation and characterization of the NaBH4-reduced products

The mixture of diene hydroperoxides from methylene blue-sensitized oxidation of methyl linoleate was reduced with NaBH₄ and the resulting alcohols were separated by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four diene alcohols were isolated in approximately equal yields from adsorption and reversed phase HPLC; the isomers were identified as methyl esters of 9-hydroxy-10,12-, 10-hydroxy-8,12-, 12-hydroxy-9,13- and 13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoate. Formation of equal yields of both conjugated and nonconjugated diene alcohols from methyl linoleate is characteristic of singlet oxygen oxidations. The detection of the easily separated nonconjugated isomer methyl 10-hydroxy-trans-8,cis-12-octadecadienoate from methyl linoleate is proposed as a test to probe the involvement of singlet oxygen in biological oxidations. A preliminary report of these results was presented at the 177th meeting of the American Chemical Society, Honolulu, HI, April 1–6, 1979; see abstracts of papers, paper No. ORGN-375.     

Ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate have only minor effect on the formation and decomposition of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides

Effects of ascorbic acid (AA) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) on lipid hydroperoxides were evaluated during the formation and decomposition of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides (ML‐OOH). AA and AP at 1 and 10 mM levels had no effect on the formation of ML‐OOH during the autoxidation of methyl linoleate at 40 °C. However, depending on the reaction medium, AA and AP at 0.2 and 2 mM either slightly inhibited or accelerated the decomposition of 40 mM cis, trans ML‐OOH in hexadecane or in hexadecane‐inwater emulsion. The increased decomposition rate of ML‐OOH, when compared to a control sample, was apparently due to the reductive activity of AA and AP on metal ions present in the system, as the addition of EDTA improved the stability of ML‐OOH. The more detailed analysis of the decomposition reactions of ML‐OOH suggests that under favorable reaction conditions AA and AP were, to some extent, capable of acting as hydrogen atom donors to peroxyl radicals and reducers of hydroperoxides to more stable hydroxy compounds. However, since all these effects of AA and AP on lipid hydroperoxides were relatively small, it is assumed that the antioxidative activity of AA and AP as well as their effect on the stability and reactions of lipid hydroperoxides in biological systems and in foods is mainly related to their synergistic interactions with other antioxidative compounds such as tocopherols.     

Photo-initiated peroxidation of lipids in micelles by azaaromatics

The monoazaaromatics, pyridine (1), hexyl nicotinate (2), and quinoline (3) and diazaaromatics pyrimidine (4) and purine (5), readily act as photo-initiators for the peroxidation of methyl linoleate in 0.50 M SDS at 37°C giving free radical chain oxidations of linoleate. Quantitative kinetic runs on the order in substrate, RH, and in the rate of chain initiation, R_i, showed that the classical rate law for autoxidation,-d[O₂]/dt=(k _p/(2 k _t ^1/2))[RH]xR _i ^1/2, is applicable to these photo-initiated oxidations. The oxidizability of methyl linoleate under these conditions is 2.92×10⁻² M^−1/2 s^−1/2. These peroxidations were inhibited by chromanol phenolic antioxidants of the vitamin E class, such as lipid-soluble 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychroman (PMHC) and water-soluble 2-carboxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-6-hydroxychroman (Trolox) and derived rate constants for inhibition of peroxidation were k _inh (PMHC)=4.35×10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k _inh (Trolox)=2.81×10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ during inhibited oxidation of methyl linoleate photo-initiated by 4. The products from photo-initiated peroxidation of methyl linoleate by 1 through 5 were determined by reduction and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses to be the 9-and 13-positional hydroperoxides of the four geometrical isomers: cis-9, trans-11 (6), trans-10, cis-12 (7), trans-9, trans-11 (8), and trans-10, trans-12 (9)-octadecadienoates typical of the free radical chain mechanism of lipid peroxidation. Products from dye-sensitized oxidation by Methylene Blue or Rose Bengal of methyl linoleate gave a product distribution of six hydroperoxides typical of oxidation by singlet oxygen. Thermal or photo-initiated peroxidation of methyl linoleate in SDS gave some selectivity of oxidation at the 13-position of the linoleate chain. The ratio of 13-to 9-oxidation varied in the range 1.23 to 1.14 as the cis/trans to trans/trans ratio of geometric isomers varied from 0.44 to 1.25 during photooxidation of increased amounts of linoleate in SDS. This selectivity is attributed to loss of the pseudo symmetry around the pentadienyl system in the lipid chain in the SDS system during the peroxidation.     

Photo-oxidation of lipids impregnated on the surface of dried seaweed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Porphyra yezoensis</Emphasis> Ueda). Hydroperoxide distribution

The distribution of hydroperoxide isomers generated by photo-oxidation of natural lipids impregnated on the surface of dried seaweed previously exposed to visible light and without added photosensitizer were studied. The surface of dried seaweed was impregnated with linoleic acid methyl ester, and the sample was divided into two parts. One part was exposed to light from a 100-W tungsten bulb (4500 lux) in a low-temperature room (5°C). The other part was kept in the dark as a control. Positional isomers of the hydroperoxides generated from the impregnated linoleic acid methyl ester were separated individually by HPLC and further identified by MS. The dried seaweed kept in the dark contained four hydroperoxide isomers, namely, 13-hydroperoxy-cis-9, trans-11-octadecadienoate, 13-hydroperoxy-trans-9, trans-11-octadecadienoate, 9-hydroperoxy-trans-10,cis-12-octadecadienoate, and 9-hydroperoxy-trans-10, trans-12-octadecadienoate. For the dried seaweed exposed to light, the oxidized lipids contained not only the same four isomers, but also 12-hydroperoxy-cis-9, trans-13-octadecadienoate and 10-hydroperoxy-trans-8,cis-12-octadecadienoate. When fresh seaweed was dried in the sunlight, the formation of 12-cis,trans- and 10-cis,trans-hydroperoxides of naturally occurring methyl linoleate was verified. Dried seaweed was then impregnated with eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester and exposed to light. Light exposure also generated certain hydroperoxide isomers attributable to singlet oxygen oxidation, namely, 6-hydroperoxy-trans-4,cis-8, cis-11,cis-14,cis-17-ethyl and 17-hydroperoxy-cis-5,cis-8,cis-11, cis-14,trans-18-ethyl eicosapentaenoate. When dried sea-weed without any impregnated lipids was exposed to the light for 24 h in a cold room (5°C), characteristic isomers, including both the 20-carbon FA isomers 6-OOH and 17-OOH as well as the 18-carbon FA isomers 10-OOH and 12-OOH, were detected in the light-exposed sample but were not found in the control. These results clearly show that singlet oxygen oxidation of lipids occurred in the seaweed exposed to light. We concluded that this lipid oxidation was catalyzed by chlorophyll as a photosensitizer in seaweed.     

Autoxidation of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols. I. Trilinoleoylglycerol

The hydroperoxides and secondary products formed from trilinoleoylglycerol autoxidized at 40°C were isolated and characterized to clarify their contribution to oxidative deterioration of vegetable oils. The products were purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified, as intact triacylglycerols, by ultraviolet, infrared,¹H NMR and¹³C NMR analyses, and after derivatization by lipolysis, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main, primary products included mono-,bis- and tris-9-hydroperoxy-trans-10,cit-12-; 9-hydroperoxy-trans-10,trans-12; 13-hydroperoxy-cis-9,trans-11; and 13-hydroperoxy-trans-9,trans-11-linolenoyl glycerols. The structures of the minor secondary products analyzed after derivatization were consistent with known oxidative degradation products of linoleate hydroperoxides. HPLC analyses showed that thebis- and tris-hydroperoxides were formed from the mono-hydroperoxides during autoxidation at peroxide values above 18 and 28 meq/kg. Studies on the further oxidation of the mono-hydroperoxides support a mechanism for the consucutive formation ofbis- and tris-hydroperoxides from the monohydroperoxides. HPLC analyses showed that no preferential oxidation occurred between the 1(3)- and 2-triglyceride positions. Hydroperoxides of linoleate triacylglycerols may be important precursors of volatile compounds contributing to off-flavors of vegetable oils. Presented at the 79th Annual American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, May 8–12, 1988.     

Study on the oxidative rate and prooxidant activity of free fatty acids

Oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids were autoxidized more rapidly than their corresponding methyl esters. Addition of stearic acid accelerated the rate of autoxidation of methyl linoleate and the decomposition of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides. Therefore, the higher oxidative rate of FFA’s than their methyl esters could be due to the catalytic effect of the carboxyl groups on the formation of free radicals by the decomposition of hydroperoxides. Addition of stearic acid also accelerated the oxidative rate of soybean oil. This result suggests that particular attention should be paid to the FFA content that affects the oxidative stability of oils.     

Influence of native antioxidants on the formation of fatty acid hydroperoxides in model systems

The effect of alpha‐tocopherol (alpha‐T) and quercetin on the formation of hydroperoxides of linoleic and linolenic acids during autoxidation at 60 ± 1 °C was investigated. Three isomers of hydroperoxides were detected using HPLC. Of isomers of linoleic acid hydroperoxides, 13‐hydroperoxy‐octadecadienoic acid trans‐trans (13‐HPODE t‐t), 9‐HPODE cis‐trans (9‐HPODE c‐t) and 9‐HPODE trans‐trans (9‐HPODE t‐t) were identified, constituting 64, 19 and 17% of the total amount, respectively. For linolenic acid, the components 13‐hydroperoxy‐octadecatrienoic acid trans‐trans (13‐HPOTE t‐t), 9‐HPOTE c‐t and 9‐HPOTE t‐t contributed 7, 33 and 60% to the total, respectively. The different dominant hydroperoxide isomers detected in linoleic and linolenic acids during oxidation are related to their chemical structure and the microenvironment of emulsion droplets. The ratios between specific isomers for both fatty acid hydroperoxides did not change during oxidation with or without antioxidants. Alpha‐T effectively inhibited the oxidation of fatty acids and reduced the formation of hydroperoxides. The total amount of the hydroperoxides decreased along with the increase in the concentration of alpha‐T, 1–40 µM. Quercetin inhibited the oxidation of both fatty acids at similar efficiency only at 40 µM concentration. A synergistic antioxidant effect of quercetin with alpha‐T in a binary system on both fatty acids was observed.     

Prooxidant effects of inorganic chromium compounds in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate

The prooxidant property of inorganic chromium compounds was determined in methyl linoleate free from natural antioxidants and metals. Prooxidant properties of inorganic chromium compounds appeared in order of sodium chromate > chromium (VI)-oxide > chromium chloride > potassium chromate > chromium (III)-oxide > potassium dichomate. In comparison with the control, additions of chromium compounds induced different amounts of autoxidation products derived from methyl linoleate, such as small amounts of hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes and large amounts of hydroxy groups,α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyls, isolatedtrans double bonds, polymers, and free radicals. From these analytical data, the catalysis of chromium compounds in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate seemed to be based on their abilities of abstracting a hydrogen from methyl linoleate and decomposing hydroperoxides derived from the autoxidation of methyl linoleate.