Synergistic antioxidant effect of nucleic acids and tocopherols

Abstract and Summary Nucleic acids acted as synergists with tocopherols in inhibiting the oxidation of methyl linoleate. DNA and RNA enhanced the activity of tocopherols to different extents in the order α‐>γ‐>δ‐tocopherol. Nucleic acids decreased the rates of consumption of tocopherol in the presence of oxi‐dizing methyl linoleate. Nucleic acids also decreased the rate of oxidation of tocopherols by PbO 2 . The synergistic effect of nucleic acids seemed to be caused by hydrogen bond formation with tocopherols which protected toco‐pherols from direct air oxidation.