Decomposition of α-Tocopheryl Glycosides in Rat Tissues

BACKGROUND: The aim of our investigation was to estimate the stability of α-tocopheryl O-glycosides in relation to activity of exoglycosidases in selected rat tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Acetylated glycosides were obtained in glucosidation of α-tocopherol using the Helferich method. The activity of exoglycosidases was determined by the Zwierz et al. method. Protein concentrations were determined by the biuret method. The concentration of released α-tocopherol was determined with the HPLC method. RESULTS: The comparison of the amount of released α-tocopherol with the amount of released p-nitrophenol shows that glycoside bound in 2a–5a derivatives of α-tocopherol undergoes hydrolysis significantly harder than in appropriate 2b–5b p-nitrophenyl derivatives. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that tocopheryl O-glycosides are more resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis than appropriate p-nitrophenol O-glycosides 2a–5a. Among examined tocopheryl O-glycosides, galactoside 4 is the only compound that caused the significant increase in tocopherol concentration, as compared to its endogenic content.