Description
Tocotrienols contain an arene ring, a chromanol ring, and an isoprenoid tail; all tocotrienol compounds contain a methyl group on C8 of the arene ring. γ-Tocotrienol contains one additional methyl group on the arene ring, positioned ortho to C8. Tocotrienols are members of the vitamin E family, typically found in vegetable oils, nuts, and grains. Tocotrienols exhibit strong antioxidative, anti-angiogenic, anticancer, and anti-hyperlipidemic qualities, although γ-Tocotrienol displays the strongest lipid-lowering activity of all of the tocotrienol compounds. Tocopherols, common substituents of over-the-counter vitamin E supplements, interfere with tocotrienol activity and show weaker antioxidative effects. Tocotrienols exhibit significant radical recycling abilities in cellular models of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage and suppress HMG-CoA reductase activity. In vitro, these compounds induce apoptosis through inhibition of Id1, EGFR, and NF-κB; they also inhibit vessel formation and proliferation in aortic endothelial cells.