Oxymyoglobin and Lipid Oxidation in Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes Retarded by α-tocopherol and β-carotene

An n-3 fatty acid-constructed oxymyoglobin liposome model was used to study the effects of 10 μM α-tocopherol and/or various concentrations of β-carotene on oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation. Oxidation was delayed by α-tocopherol or β-carotene treatments alone (p < 0.05). β-Carotene at 1.5 μM and 2μM caused greater delay in oxymyoglobin oxidation than α-tocopherol (p < 0.05). For lipid oxidation inhibition, 2 μM β-carotene was similar in effect to α-tocopherol. With α-tocopherol plus 1.5 or 2 μM β-carotene, greater oxidation delaying effect resulted for both oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidations than with 1.5 or 2 μM β-carotene treatment alone (p < 0.05).