title: [Occurrence and function of tocochromanols in plants, animals and men].
abstract: Tocochroanols belong to a group of compounds comprising tocopherols and tocotrienols, known as vitamin E. Apart from the well known antioxidant properties of these compounds, there is increasing evidence accumulating for their additional function in men, manifesting in lowering of blood cholesterol level, anticancer and neuroprotective action, especially in the case of tocotrienols. The present article describes the structure of tocochromanols, their occurrence and biosynthesis in plants. The mechanism of antioxidant action of these compounds and recently recognized additional functions in plants and animals are presented.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Fizjologii i Biochemii Roślin, Wydział Biochemii, Biofizyki i Biotechnologii, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szymańska
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kruk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002839:Chromans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D024508:Tocotrienols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D024508:Tocotrienols; D014810:Vitamin E; C013649:plastochromanol 8; D024505:Tocopherols