β-Tocopherol

(±)-β-Tocopherol is a lipid-soluble form of vitamin E with antioxidant activity. It scavenges 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH; ) radicals with an EC₅₀ value of 68.2 μM. (±)-β-Tocopherol (100 μM) inhibits LPS-induced COX-2 gene expression in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Unlike (±)-α-tocopherol , (±)-β-tocopherol does not inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation, decrease PKC activity, increase phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, or modify expression of the α-tropomyosin gene. [Matreya, LLC. Catalog No. 1071]

One of the naturally occurring forms of Vitamin E. Is biologically less active than α-Tocopherol. This is the racemic mixture of all stereoisomers.

ChEBI: Beta-tocopherol is a tocopherol in which the chroman-6-ol core is substituted by methyl groups at positions 5 and 8. While it is found in low concentrations in many vegetable oils, only cottonseed oil contains significant amounts. It has a role as a plant metabolite and a food component. It is a vitamin E and a tocopherol.