Protective effects of the lipophilic redox conjugate tocopheryl succinyl-ethyl ferulate on HIV replication

Previously, we demonstrated that ferulate ethyl and tocopherol reduced HIV replication, In this study, we investigate whether the conjugation of both compounds (O-tocopheryl succinyl O-ethyl ferulate) can increase HIV inhibition, We show here for the first time that O-tocopheryl succinyl O-ethyl ferulate inhibits 80% of HIV replication (HIV-1 acute infection and HIV transmission), inhibits cell lipoperoxidation and prevents cellular glutathione consumption, Compared to ferulate ethyl and tocopheryl succinyl, O-tocopheryl succinyl O-ethyl ferulate inhibits more HIV replication, This may be due in part to the great increase in the lipophilicity of this compound. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.