Antioxidant Activities of α-Tocopherol and Hydroxycarbazole against Lipid Peroxidation in Homogeneous Solution and in Liposomal Membranes

Abstract α-Tocopherol and carazostatin (1-heptyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-carbazole) acted as a potent antioxidant against lipid peroxidation. α-Tocopherol was more active than carazostatin in homogeneous solution, whereas, in the liposomal membranes, carazostatin exhibited a stronger antioxidant activity than α-tocopherol. This novel finding on such a reversal in relative antioxidant activity by the change in reaction media suggests the importance of mobility of an antioxidant at microenvironment in determining antioxidant activity.