On the Protection against Infarction by Corn Oil.

Abstract

Knowledge that corn oil affords protection against infarction in rats that are maintained on an experimental diet led to new studies on the composition of corn oil. Fresh and unsaponified corn oil was used to avoid possible losses of constituents. Four previously unrecognized tocopherol-like compounds were discovered. Biosynthetic precursors of the tocopherols were not found but are not necessarily absent. The presence of large amounts of sterol esters of ferulic acid was observed. The content of ubiquinone-9 in fresh corn oil is comparable to that of commercial oil. Hexahydroubiquinone-4 is stable in commercial oil for up to 7 months. Existing and new knowledge on the constituents of corn oil may contribute towards elucidation of the protection which this oil affords rats against infarction.