PREVENTIVE ACTION OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS ON DECOMPOSITION OF METHYL 13-HYDROPEROXYOCTADECADIENOATE

The effects of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosp hatidylserine on the thermal decomposition of methyl 13-hydroperoxyoct adecadienoate were investigated in a chloroform/methanol mixture. Amon g the phospholipids tested, phosphatidylserine inhibited the thermal d ecomposition of methyl 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoate to about 30% aft er exposure to 60 degrees C for 48h wheareas only 10% remained in the absence of the phospholipid for the same heating period. Addition of e ugenol with phosphatidylserine showed high synergistic activity which prevented the decomposition of the hydroperoxide to a higher extent un der the same conditions. Phosphatidylserine was also found to inhibit iron - accelerated decomposition of methyl 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadieno ate. Moreover, the decomposition of the hydroperoxide accelerated by a scorbic acid was effectively prevented by a combination of eugenol and phosphatidylserine.