Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) is a well-established nephrotoxic agent. This study was designed to investigate the modulatory effect of the subacute administration of tocotrienol-rich fraction (T3), a product from palm oil, and alpha-tocopherol (T) on Fe-NTA-induced renal injury and oxidative stress. Fe-NTA administration markedly increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine level, which was coupled with a marked lipid peroxidation, reduced activity of glutathione levels, and morphological alterations in rat kidney. Pretreatment with T3 (50 mg/kg/day) and T (50 mg/kg/day) for 7 days before Fe-NTA administration significantly reduced the serum creatinine and BUN levels, reduced lipid peroxidation in a significant manner, and restored levels of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase. T3 pretreatment also attenuated the serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, as compared to pretreatment with T, and restored normal renal morphology. These findings suggest a strong correlation between iron-induced oxidative stress and renal dysfunction and point toward the protective effects of T3 in Fe-NTA-induced renal injury.

Purpose: To compare the antifibrotic effect of vitamin E isoforms α-,γ-, and δ-tocotrienol  on human Tenon’s fibroblasts (hTf) to the antimetabolite mitomycin C.

Methods: Antifbrotic effects of α- (40,60,80,100 and 120µM), γ- (10,20,330 and 40 µM) and δ–tocotrienol  (10,20,30 and 40 µM) on hTf cultures were evaluated by performing proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis assays. Whereas for vitamin E the exposure time was set to 7 days to mimic subconjunctival application, cultures were exposed only 5 min to mitomycin C 100µg/ml to mimic intraoperative administration. Cell morphology (phase contrast microscopy) as an assessment for cytotoxicity and cell density by measuring DNA content in a fluorometric assay to determine proliferation inhibition was performed on day 0,4, and 7. Migration ability and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts were measured.

Results: All tested tocotrienol isoforms were able to significantly inhibit hTf proliferation in a dose dependent manner (maximal inhibitory effect without relevant morphological changes at day 4 for α-tocotrienol 80µm with 36.7% and at day 7 for α-tocotrienol 80µM with 42.6% compared to control). Degenerative cell changes were observed in cultures with concentrations above 80µM for α- and above 30µM for γ- and δ-rocotrienol. The highest collagen synthesis inhibition has been found with 80µM α-tocotrienol (62.4%) and no significant inhibition for mitomycin C (2.5%). Migration ability was significantly reduced in cultures exposed to 80µM α- and 30µM γ-tocotrienol (inhibition of 82.2% and 79.5%, respectively, compared to control) and also after mitomycin C treatment (60.0%). Complete growth inhibition without significant degenerative cell changes could only be achieved with mitomycin C.

Conclusion: In vitro, all tested tocotrienol isoforms were able to inhibit proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of human Tenon’s fibroblasts and therefore may have the potential as an anti-scarring agent in filtrating glaucoma surgery.

As rice bran tocotrienol (T3) has been known to have a wide range of physiological functions (e.g., antiangiogenesis), we aimed at developing a T3-rich rice variety for nutraceutical purposes. T3 content in more than 250 kinds of rice bran samples were investigated, and Milyang23 was found as the best variety rich in T3. The variety was therefore chosen for cross-fertilization with Koshihikari. Among obtained F(2) progenies, some of them became improved in T3 content (up to 2-fold of reference Koshihikari). QTL analysis of the F(2) progenies revealed five putative loci corresponding to T3 biosynthesis, in which the main loci were located near a marker RM3827 on chromosome 6. The results show that cross-breeding is effective in improving rice bran T3 and provides more genetic understanding on T3 biosynthesis in rice plants

The subtropical plant species Cyphostemma digitatum, Vitaceae, is used in central Yemen in traditional medicine, as a culinary herb, and as a source of food flavoring. The contents of vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids and changes caused by common processing were investigated. Carotenoids were determined by reversed phase C30-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection at 470 nm, while tocopherols and tocotrienols were analyzed by using normal phase HPLC with fluorescence detection (excitation, 292 nm; emission, 330 nm). Ascorbic acid was determined spectrophotometrically after reaction with DNP by measuring the absorbance at 520 nm. For the raw material and for the processed commercial food product, both in dried form, reasonable quantities of carotenoids were found in the raw material as follows: lutein, 18.89 +/- 0.73 mg/100 g; zeaxanthin, 9.46 +/- 0.30 mg/100 g; canthaxanthin, 0.21 +/- 0.01 mg/100 g; beta-cryptoxanthin, 0.67 +/- 0.03 mg/100 g; and beta-carotene, 14.60 +/- 0.46 mg/100 g. Household processing reduced the carotenoid contents dramatically; only beta-carotene sustained the processing. Likewise, vitamin C, 49.50 +/- 0.01 mg/100 g in the raw material and 20.30 +/- 0.02 mg/100 g in the processed material, was affected negatively by processing; only 41% was retained after processing. In contrast, the outstanding high content of vitamin E, 82.74 +/- 0.63 mg/100 g in the raw material, was increased by processing to 101.20 +/- 1.38 mg/100 g; it was found in different forms, some of which were rare in other sources.

A RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous analysis of tocotrienol isoforms (TRF) and simvastatin (SIM) in SIM-TRF nanoparticles (NPs) was developed. Analytes were monitored by UV detection at 238 and 295 nm for SIM and TRF, respectively, using a gradient methanol/water elution. Calibration curves for TRF and SIM were linear over concentration range of 20-80 microg/mL and 1-10 microg/mL with correlation coefficients 0.9990 and 0.9991, respectively. The recovery of TRF and SIM from the NPs was in the range from 97.35 to 102.19% and from 92.71 to 104.35%, respectively. This developed method was successfully employed in quantifying both drugs in NPs for future use in cancer therapy.

The metabolism of gamma-tocotrienol (gamma-TE) and gamma-tocopherol (gamma-T) was investigated in human A549 cells and in rats. Similar to gamma-T, A549 cells metabolized gamma-TE to sulfated 9′-, 11′-, and 13′-carboxychromanol and their unconjugated counterparts. After 72-h incubation with the cells, 90% of long-chain carboxychromanols in the culture media from gamma-TE, but <45% from gamma-T, were in the sulfated form. The formation of these metabolites was further investigated in rats gavaged by gamma-TE at 10 or 50 mg/kg, gamma-T at 10 mg/kg, or tocopherol-stripped corn oil in controls. Six hours after a single dosing, the supplemented rats had increased plasma concentrations of 13′-carboxychromanol and sulfated 9′-, 11′-, 13′-carboxychromanol, whereas none of these metabolites were detectable in the controls. Sulfated 11′-carboxychromanol was the most abundant long-chain metabolite in gamma-TE-supplemented rats. Sulfatase/glucuronidase hydrolysis revealed for the first time that >88% 2-(beta-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (gamma-CEHC), the terminal beta-oxidation metabolite, was in the conjugated form in the plasma. In all groups, conjugated gamma-CEHC accounted for >75% of total metabolites, whereas free CEHC was a minor metabolite. At 10 mg/kg, the plasma concentrations of total metabolites from gamma-TE-supplemented rats were higher (P < 0.05) than those from gamma-T-fed rats. These results demonstrate that in rats, conjugation such as sulfation occurs parallel to beta-oxidation in the liver and is quantitatively important to vitamin E metabolism. Conjugated long-chain carboxychromanols may be novel excreted metabolites during supplementation. Our data also provide in vivo evidence that gamma-TE is more extensively metabolized than gamma-T.

Tocopherols and tocotrienols have been simultaneously determined in food samples using a rapid and simple analytical method including pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and LC with electrochemical detection. Separation was carried out on a Phenomenex Synergi 4 microm Hydro-RP 80A column, using a solution of 2.5 mM acetic acid/sodium acetate in methanol/water (99:1, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Column temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C. Detection was performed by coulometric detection at 500 mV except for (beta+gamma)-tocotrienol, in wheat and rye samples, which was at +350 mV. A palm oil containing a relatively large amount of gamma-tocotrienol and lower concentrations of alpha- and delta-tocotrienols and alpha- and gamma-tocopherols was used to provide reference retention times for the tocotrienols. Analyte quantification was performed using the external standard method. The calibration equations of tocopherols were used to quantify both tocopherols and their corresponding tocotrienols. The extraction recoveries obtained using the optimized PLE conditions were in the 80-114% range, with RSDs lower than 15%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of tocotrienols and tocopherols in cereal (wheat, rye, barley, maize and oat) and palm oil samples.

Owing to the increasing interest in the health effects of antioxidant micronutrients on chronic diseases, a robust and rapid HPLC method for simultaneous measurement of coenzyme Q(10) (ubiquinone and ubiquinol), vitamin A (all-trans-retinol), vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene) was developed. Sample preparation and analytical conditions that would affect solubility and stability of these antioxidants were investigated and optimized. The mobile phase used was made up of acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol and tert-butanol without corrosive additives such as ammonium perchlorate and perchloric acid. Our results show that using two C(18) columns coupled with photodiode array, fluorescence and electrochemical detection, a comprehensive spectrum of 16 lipid-soluble antioxidants in 30 microL of plasma could be separated and quantified within 30 min. The chromatographic run time was about 3-fold faster and the sample size was about 5-fold smaller than when assays were performed separately using existing methods. The present method will be useful for dietary habit studies and for antioxidant status investigations.

Vitamin E is divided into two subgroups; tocopherols and tocotrienols. Both have protective roles in biological systems. The present study was conducted to compare the effect of short-term supplementation at 200 mg/d of either alpha-tocopherol or a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) from palm oil on immune modulation and plasma vitamin E levels in normal healthy Asian volunteers. In a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted, fifty-three healthy volunteers aged 20-50 years were recruited based on the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly assigned into three groups, i.e. two experimental groups that received daily supplementation at 200 mg of either alpha-tocopherol or the TRF, and the control group that received a placebo. Blood was drawn on days 0, 28 and 56 for several laboratory analyses. Differences in the production of IL-4 or interferon-gamma by concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes isolated from these volunteers were not significant (P>0.05). There were no significant differences observed in immune parameters between the healthy volunteers who received daily supplementation with either alpha-tocopherol or the TRF. As these observations were made in the absence of any immunogenic challenge, we feel it would be of benefit to study if there would be any differences observed when an immunogenic challenge such as vaccination were introduced.

Vitamin E is an important lipophilic antioxidant. The term refers to eight essential naturally occurring fat-soluble nutrients called tocopherols or tocotrienols. Among these isomers, _-tocopherol has the highest biologically active form and is found in all lipoprotein fractions. Vitamin E deficiency during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. This review highlights recent findings that have led to a better understanding of vitamin E absorption, transport, bioavailability, and its role in pregnancy, and that underline the need for re-evaluation of the potential benefits of vitamin E supplementation in pregnant women.