Review : tocotrienols chemistry

• Main Author: Joharie Mohd Said
• Other Authors: Zaher Judeh
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Medicine::Pharmacy
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39832
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The study of Vitamin E has been restricted mainly to tocopherols. Tocotrienols, the other half of the Vitamin E family, has not been given the same credit for its potential in cancer and health research. Totrienols have shown anti-cancer and neuroprotective behaviour not exhibited by tocopherols. The solubility of tocotrienols during extraction is improved in super critical CO2, methanol and ethyl acetate. Ester derivatives of tocotrienols have also shown to be very soluble. Tocotrienols are utilized as supplements to reduce or prevent health ailments. However, there are barriers to the absorption of tocotrienols, mainly due to the metabolism in the human body. Multiphase capsulation of tocotrienols can overcome the various pH barriers present in the GI tract for absorption. Encapsulation of tocotrienols within vesicles bearing transferrin shows potential for IV administration. Micelles structures to improve the solubility of tocotrienols were also suggested. Ester derivatives and phosphate addition have been given little attention to tocotrienols but based on the findings on the ester and phosphate derivates of tocopherols, tocotrienols may have the potential to produce better results