Optimal antioxidant activity with moderate concentrations of Tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) in in vitro assays

• Main Authors: Ali, Abd Manaf, Khalid, Yusoff, Suhaila, Muid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Q Science (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/3990/1/FH02-FPBSM-14-00548.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/3990/

Vitamin E is known to have potent antioxidant activity and plays an important role in reducing oxidative stress, a pivotal step in atherogenesis. However, several randomised clinical trials using α-tocopherol have failed to demonstrate consistent beneficial effects of antioxidants against atherosclerosis and clinical endpoints. Tocotrienol, a vitamin E compound analogue is shown to have more potent antioxidant activity compared to tocopherol. Finding the optimal anti-oxidative dose is crucial and may effectively be applied for cardioprotection in human. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal dose of tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) with highest antioxidant activity in vitro using the ferric thiocyanate (FTC), 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2’, 7’- dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFHDA) assays. It was found that TRF exhibited potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities with an IC50 of 22.10 + 0.01 µg/ml. In all assays, TRF had optimal antioxidant activity at moderate concentrations (10-100 µg/ml). In conclusion, TRF has potent antioxidant activity, which is optimal at moderate concentrations.