L. Å. Appelqvist

Bio: L. Å. Appelqvist is an academic researcher from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cycloartenol & Stigmasterol. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 14 publications receiving 2123 citations.

The chemistry and antioxidant properties of tocopherols and tocotrienols

Abstract: This article is a review of the fundamental chemistry of the tocopherols and tocotrienols relevant to their antioxidant action. Despite the general agreement that α-tocopherol is the most efficient antioxidant and vitamin E homologuein vivo, there was always a considerable discrepancy in its “absolute” and “relative” antioxidant effectivenessin vitro, especially when compared to γ-tocopherol. Many chemical, physical, biochemical, physicochemical, and other factors seem responsible for the observed discrepancy between the relative antioxidant potencies of the tocopherolsin vivo andin vitro. This paper aims at highlighting some possible reasons for the observed differences between the tocopherols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-) in relation to their interactions with the important chemical species involved in lipid peroxidation, specifically trace metal ions, singlet oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and antioxidant synergists. Although literature reports related to the chemistry of the tocotrienols are quite meager, they also were included in the discussion in virtue of their structural and functional resemblance to the tocopherols.

Variations in the composition of sterols, tocopherols and lignans in seed oils from fourSesamum species

Abstract: Seeds from different collections of cultivatedSesamum indicum Linn and three related wild species [specifically,S. alatum Thonn.,S. radiatum Schum & Thonn. andS. angustifolium (Oliv.) Engl.] were studied for their oil contents and fatty acid composition of the total lipids. The oils from wild seeds were characterized by higher percentages of unsaponifiables (4.9, 2.6 and 3.7%, respectively) compared toS. indicum (1.4–1.8%), mainly due to their high contents of lignans. Total sterols accounted forca. 40, 22, 20 and 16% of the unsaponifiables of the four species, respectively. The four species were different in the relative percentages of the three sterol fractions (the desmethyl, monomethyl and dimethyl sterols) and in the percentage composition of each fraction. Campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol and Δ5-avenasterol were the major desmethyl sterols, whereas obtusifoliol, gramisterol, cycloeucalenol and citrostandienol were the major monomethyl sterols, and α-amyrin, β-amyrin, cycloartenol and 24-methylene cycloartanol were the main dimethyl sterols in all species. Differences were also observed among the four species in sterol patterns of the free sterols compared to the sterol esters.Sesamum alatum contained less tocopherols (210–320 mg/kg oil), andS. radiatum andS. angustifolium contained more tocopherols (ca. 750 and 800 mg/kg oil, respectively) than didS. indicum (490–680 mg/kg oil). The four species were comparable in tocopherol composition, with γ-tocopherol representing 96–99% of the total tocopherols. The four species varied widely in the identity and levels of the different lignans. The percentages of these lignans in the oils ofS. indicum were sesamin (0.55%) and sesamolin (0.50%).Sesamum alatum showed 1.37% of 2-episesalatin and minor amounts of sesamin and sesamolin (0.01% each).Sesamum radiatum was rich in sesamin (2.40%) and contained minor amounts of sesamolin (0.02%), whereS. angustifolium was rich in sesangolin (3.15%) and also contained considerable amounts of sesamin (0.32%) and sesamolin (0.16%).

Variation in fatty acid composition of the different acyl lipids in seed oils from fourSesamum species

Abstract: Seeds from different collections of cultivatedSesamum indicum Linn. and three related wild species [specifically,S. alatum Thonn.,S. radiatum Schum and Thonn. andS. angustifolium (Oliv.) Engl.] were studied for their oil content and fatty acid composition of the total lipids. The wild seeds contained less oil (ca. 30%) than the cultivated seeds (ca. 50%). Lipids from all four species were comparable in their total fatty acid composition, with palmitic (8.2–12.7%), stearic (5.6–9.1%), oleic (33.4–46.9%) and linoleic acid (33.2–48.4%) as the major acids. The total lipids from selected samples were fractionated by thin-layer chromatography into five fractions: triacylglycerols (TAG; 80.3–88.9%), diacylglycerols (DAG; 6.5–10.4%), free fatty acids (FFA; 1.2–5.1%), polar lipids (PL; 2.3–3.5%) and steryl esters (SE; 0.3–0.6%). Compared to the TAG, the four other fractions (viz, DAG, FFA, PL and SE) were generally characterized by higher percentages of saturated acids, notably palmitic and stearic acids, and lower percentages of linoleic and oleic acids in all species. Slightly higher percentages of long-chain fatty acids (20∶0, 20∶1, 22∶0 and 24∶0) were observed for lipid classes other than TAG in all four species. Based on the fatty acid composition of the total lipids and of the different acyl lipid classes, it seems thatS. radiatum andS. angustifolium are more related to each other than they are to the other two species.

Seed lipids of Sesamum indicum and related wild species in Sudan. The sterols

Abstract: Oil extracted from seeds of different varieties of the cultivated Sesamum indicum L and three related wild species, viz S alatum Thonn, S radiatum Schum & Thonn, and S angustifolium (Oliv) Engl, were analysed for their total unsaponifiables and for the contents and composition of the three sterol fractions (desmethyl, monomethyl and dimethyl sterols). The sterols were analysed after saponification by preparative TLC, capillary GC and GC-MS of their TMS ethers. Oils from the wild species contained more unsaponifiable material (2.3-2.4%) compared with the cultivated species (1.1-1.3%). Considerable differences were observed in the total sterol contents and the relative proportions of the three sterol fractions in the oils from the four species studied. Sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and Δ5-avenasterol were the major desmethyl sterols in all four species. The monomethyl sterol fraction consisted primarily of obtusifoliol, gramisterol, cycloeucalenol and citrostadienol. Cycloartenol and 24-methylene cycloartanol were the predominant dimethyl sterols. Variations in the composition of the three sterol fractions were observed between S indicum oils traditionally pressed by the camel-driven expellers and laboratory extracted oils from the same seeds.

Lignan analysis in seed oils from fourSesamum species: Comparison of different chromatographic methods

Abstract: Different chromatographic methods, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and normal- and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were compared for their ability to separate the different lignans present in fourSesamum species,viz., S. indicum Linn.,S. alatum Thonn., S. radiatum Schum & Thonn. andS. angustifolium (Oliv.) Engl. The advantages and limitations of each method are discussed, and a combination of methods is suggested for qualitative analyses. Two-dimensional TLC was found to be a valuable qualitative technique and one-dimensional TLC is useful for preparative purposes. GC is a good supplement for qualitative analysis, but it had many limitations as a quantitative tool—it involves many preparative steps, no suitable internal standard was found to be commercially available and the various lignans had markedly different response factors. GC/MS is a necessary techniqee to confirm the identity of the lignans present. HPLC is a one-step technique suitable for quantitative analyses, and is fast and simple because it involves direct injection of oil solutions. Reversed-phase HPLC was unable to separate sesamolin and sesangolin, but a normal-phase silica column provided satisfactory separation for these two lignans. 2-Episesalation ofS. alatum, however, did not elute from the normalphase column. Once lignans are identified, a relevant HPLC method can be used for quantitative analyses. Sesamin was present in large amounts inS. radiatum, in considerable amounts inS. indicum andS. angustifolium, and in small amounts inS. alatum. Sesamolin occurred in considerable amounts inS. indicum andS. angustifolium, but only in small amounts in the other two wild species studied.Sesamum alatum was characterized by high amounts of 2-episesalatin, andS. angustifolium was characterized by high levels of sesangolin.

Reactive Oxygen Species, Oxidative Damage, and Antioxidative Defense Mechanism in Plants under Stressful Conditions

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a normal product of plant cellular metabolism. Various environmental stresses lead to excessive production of ROS causing progressive oxidative damage and ultimately cell death. Despite their destructive activity, they are well-described second messengers in a variety of cellular processes, including conferment of tolerance to various environmental stresses. Whether ROS would serve as signaling molecules or could cause oxidative damage to the tissues depends on the delicate equilibrium between ROS production, and their scavenging. Efficient scavenging of ROS produced during various environmental stresses requires the action of several nonenzymatic as well as enzymatic antioxidants present in the tissues. In this paper, we describe the generation, sites of production and role of ROS as messenger molecules as well as inducers of oxidative damage. Further, the antioxidative defense mechanisms operating in the cells for scavenging of ROS overproduced under various stressful conditions of the environment have been discussed in detail.

Vitamin E: function and metabolism

Abstract: Although vitamin E has been known as an essential nutrient for reproduction since 1922, we are far from understanding the mechanisms of its physiological functions. Vitamin E is the term for a group of tocopherols and tocotrienols, of which alpha-tocopherol has the highest biological activity. Due to the potent antioxidant properties of tocopherols, the impact of alpha-tocopherol in the prevention of chronic diseases believed to be associated with oxidative stress has often been studied, and beneficial effects have been demonstrated. Recent observations that the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein in the liver specifically sorts out RRR-alpha-tocopherol from all incoming tocopherols for incorporation into plasma lipoproteins, and that alpha-tocopherol has signaling functions in vascular smooth muscle cells that cannot be exerted by other forms of tocopherol with similar antioxidative properties, have raised interest in the roles of vitamin E beyond its antioxidative function. Also, gamma-tocopherol might have functions apart from being an antioxidant. It is a nucleophile able to trap electrophilic mutagens in lipophilic compartments and generates a metabolite that facilitates natriuresis. The metabolism of vitamin E is equally unclear. Excess alpha-tocopherol is converted into alpha-CEHC and excreted in the urine. Other tocopherols, like gamma- and delta-tocopherol, are almost quantitatively degraded and excreted in the urine as the corresponding CEHCs. All rac alpha-tocopherol compared to RRR-alpha-tocopherol is preferentially degraded to alpha-CEHC. Thus, there must be a specific, molecular role of RRR-alpha-tocopherol that is regulated by a system that sorts, distributes, and degrades the different forms of vitamin E, but has not yet been identified. In this article we try to summarize current knowledge on the function of vitamin E, with emphasis on its antioxidant vs. other properties, the preference of the organism for RRR-alpha-tocopherol, and its metabolism to CEHCs.