ARWA AHMED ALI 

MENNA ALLAH

IBRAHIM TOCOTRIENOLS

VE:TOCOTRIENOL

AND ITS ISOMERS

WHAT ARE TOCOTRIENOLS • Among the VE compounds tocotrienol  exist and possess a unique structure and properties as : antioxidants , anti cancerogenic agents ...etc ( will be discussed in brief) • Tocotrienols have isomers like alpha ,beta, gamma and delta they vary according to : •  the strenghth of their properties • And methyl group subistitution on the cromanal ring at ortho or para or meta positions :• Gamma tocotrienol posseses a methyl group at the ortho position and its effective in antioxidation than the other isomers and tocopherols .

TOCOTRIENOL ISOMERS CHEMICAL STRUCTURE 

THE BEST SOURCES OF TOCOTRIENOLS

OILY SOURCES FOR TOCOTRIENOLS

    COCONUT O IL                    RED PALM OIL        

      R ICE-BRAN O IL                 PALM KERNEL O IL

RED PALM OIL

TOCOTRIENOLS BEST SOURCE•annato

TOCOTRIENOLS VERSUS TOCOPHEROLS• They differ in : • 1-chemical structure • 2-bioavailability• 3-digestion and absorbtion • 4-antioxidative effect

FIRSTLY: CHEMICAL STRUCTURE TOCOTRIENOL• vhave the Unsaturated

isoprenoid sidechain possesing double bonds

vTheir chemical structure make them more potent than tocopherols in several vitro systems 

TOCOPHEROL

• vhave NO double bonds but saturated phytyl tail

Less potent than tocotrienols 

COMPARISON

TOCOTRIENOL

• Chiral centers of tocotrienols prsesnt at c2 where isoprenoid chain binds 

• Have 2 isomers however it can have 4 geometrical isomers cis/trans at 3' and 7' positions 

TOCOPHEROL

• Have 3 chiral centers • Have 8 isomers 

AS SHOWN HERE 

ABOUT TOCOTRIENOL ISOMERS In  cardio and

neuroprotection: Alpha and gamma are more potent

than others in rats and humans 

 anti cancer effect (esophagus and

prostate and colon cancers )in mouse and human cancer cells in vitro and

vivo 

• Due to their ability to form reactive intermediates that combines DNA beside inhibiting the formation of mutagenic peroxynitriteand nitrosamines that can react with Dna biological molecules

**alpha tocotrienols have more molecular weight than gamma ,beta and delta 

SECONDELY: DIGESTION AND ABSORBTION• vTocotrienols are poorer and more inferior with regard to tissue retention than alpha tocopherol •They are haif-life in camparison with tocopherols • vTocotrienols penetrate rapidly the skin cells

THIRDLY:ANTIOXIDATIVE EFFECT • vTocotrienols are much better in antioxidation than tocopherol especially alpha tocotrienol WHY? • vDue to its property that can counteract peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals generated during lipid peroxidation so it inhibits continuel hydrogen abstraction thus it inhibits chain propagation step • vThat’s why phospholipids and plasma lipoproteins are not oxidized maintaining good functioning membrane bilayer thanks to tocotrienols role 

THIRDLY: BIOAVAILABILITY• Immediately afer oral ingestion tocotrienols are low in bioavailability that’s why its recommended to have a daily intake of its tablets or powder or the oils rich in tocotrienols 

• Nearly this supplements can overcome • the following  demerits of tocotrienols 

DEMERITS •tocotrienols v poorly

assimilated by digestion 

vPoorly distributed to tissues in blood 

vAre rapidly metabolized and eleminated out of the body 

Low bioavailability

TOCOTRIENOLS BENEFITS 

BETTER ANTIOXIDATION• More uniform distribution in the membrane –lipid bilayer 

Strong disordering of the membrane lipids .Chromanal ring interacts with lipid radicals and prevent continueal oxidationIts effect is in both vivo and vitro systems

PROTEIN OXIDATION•They inhibit oxidation of protein  and according to various researches gamma tocotrienols gave better results so they are the strongest inhibitors in this oxidation 

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

•vReduces alzheimer`s risk by 55% •vDecrease DNA damage •vAnti cancerogenic properties

FUNCTIONING

HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCAVENGE VARIOUS BIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT FREE RADICALS

INHIBITINH FREE RADICALS

TOCOTRIENOL DIFFICIENCY

• it can results in antherosclerosis

Due to peroxidation of LDL cholesterol 

RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSE •For men 120 mg/kg of body weight the excess dosage causes increasing in liver weights,women 130 mg/kg of body weight • Excess dosage causes reduction in

uterus and ovary weights 

REFRENCE :

TOCOTRIENOL THANKS

YOU