Formation of malonaldehyde in the presence of probucol, an anti-atherosclerosis drug

Formation and inhibition of malonaldehyde (MA) from blood plasma lipids oxidized by Fenton's reagent in the absence or presence of probucol [4,4'-(isopropylidenedithio)bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol)] and L-ascorbic acid were investigated. The amount of MA formed was quantitatively analysed by gas chromatography. L-Ascorbic acid inhibited MA formation by about 30% at the level of 4.0/micromol, but the amount of MA formed was increased by the presence of probucol. When 3.0 micromol oxidized probucol was hydrolysed at pH 1. 3 and 5, 2616.5 nmol, 287.5 nmol and 103.9 nmol MA were recovered, respectively. This is the first report of quantitative analysis of MA formed from probucol on oxidation.