Isolation and some properties of plastochromanol‐8

Conditions suitable for preparative isolation, quantitative separation and determination of plastochromanol‐8 (PC‐8), and their mild oxidation products were elaborated. Mild oxidation of PC‐8 alone and with gammatocopherol (gamma‐T) equimolare mixture by benzoquinone gives four and two new products, respectively. These products give Emmerie‐Engel reaction. Four of gamma‐T, three of PC‐8 and two mixed mild oxidation products were found in linseed (Lea number = 49). It was also found that PC‐8 derived from plant oils was a natural antioxidant better inhibiting autoxidation than alpha‐tocopherol in the model system in which lard was the substrate.