Characterisation of carotenoid radical cations in liposomal environments: interaction with vitamin C

Pulse radiolysis was used to generate the radical cations of beta -carotene and two xanthophylls, zeaxanthin and lutein, in unilamellar vesicles of dipalmitoylphosphatidyl choline. The rate constants for the reaction (repair) of these carotenoid radical cations with the water-soluble vitamin C were found to be similar (similar to1 x 10(7) M-1 s(-1)) for beta -carotene and zeaxanthin and somewhat lower (similar to0.5 x 10(7) M-1 s(-1)) for lutein. The results are discussed in terms of the microenvironment of the carotenoids and suggest that for beta -carotene, a hydrocarbon carotenoid, the radical cation is able to interact with a water-soluble species even though the parent hydrocarbon carotenoid is probably entirely in the non-polar region of the liposome. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.