The analysis of α-tocopherol and ubiquinone in rat liver

Abstract

1. A comparative study has been made of five methods of saponifying normal and vitamin E-deficient rat liver and subsequently measuring ubiquinone and α-tocopherol. 2. Losses of ubiquinone and α-tocopherol occur under certain conditions, and three of the methods were judged to be unsatisfactory. Recoveries of α-tocopherol are nearly quantitative under the conditions of ToŠić & Moore (1945), but methods that use large reaction times or weaker alkali destroy tocopherol, and over 50 % loss can be encountered. Ubiquinone does not seem as sensitive to the time of reaction, but is sensitive to the concentration of alkali and amount of water present during saponification.