Antioxidant behaviour of Ubiquinone and β-Carotene Incorporated in model Membranes

Abstract

Experiments with model membranes, in which ubiquinone was incorporated, were performed in order to clarify the mechanism by which ubiquinone can prevent or control chain lipid peroxidation in biomembranes.

Comparing the behaviour of ubiquinone-containing vesicles with β-carotene containing vesicles we suggest that a possible explanation of the ubiquinone antioxidant effect could be to scavenge singlet oxygen and to affect structurally the lipid bilayer inhibiting hydroperoxide decomposition.

Key Words:

• Ubiquinone
• Carotene
• Liposomes
• Lipid peroxidation