Lipid peroxyl radical scavenger (chain-breaking antioxidant)
- Stops peroxyl radicals before they attack adjacent membrane lipids — breaking the chain reaction
- Protects membranes, LDL particles and neurons from oxidative damage
- Works in the lipid phase; the spent radical is recycled by water-phase antioxidants at the membrane–water interface
Drugs with this mechanism (1)
- α-Tocopherol — Vitamin E; lipid-phase chain-breaking antioxidant.
Self-check
- Which radical chain does alpha-tocopherol interrupt?
Peroxyl-radical attack on membrane lipids. - In which phase does alpha-tocopherol act?
The lipid phase.
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