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Vitamin E
• true antoxidants, or anti-oxygens, which probably inhibit oxidation by reacting with free radicals blocking the chain reaction. Examples are the alkyl
gallates, butylated hy- droxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, nordihydro- guaiaretic acid, and the tocopherols (see Vitamin E Sub- stances, p.1992)
reducing agents, which are substances having a lower re- dox potential than the drug or adjuvants that they are intend- ed to protect and are therefore
more readily oxidised. Re- ducing agents may act also by reacting with free radicals. Examples are ascorbic acid (p.1983) and the potassium and sodium salts
of sulfurous acid (see Sulfites and Sulfur Diox- ide)
• antoxidant synergists, which usually have little antoxidant effect themselves but probably enhance the action of antoxi- dants in the first group by reacting
with heavy-metal ions which catalyse oxidation. Examples of synergists are citric acid (p.2284), edetic acid and its salts (p.1445), lecithin (p.2332), and
tartaric acid (p.2395)
. Practically insoluble in water; freely soluble in dehydrated alcohol, in acetone, in dichloromethane, and in fatty oils. Store under an inert gas in airtight
containers. Protect from light. USP 31 (Vitamin E). A clear, yellow, or greenish-yellow, practi- cally odourless, viscous oil. It is unstable to air and light, partic-
ularly in alkaline media. Insoluble in water; soluble in alcohol; miscible with acetone, with chloroform, with ether, and with vegetable oils. S