Protective Effect of Amphiphilic Ammonium Salts on the Oxidation of Lecithin Liposomes

The inhibition effect of selected amphiphilic quaternary alkyl-substituted ammonium salts on oxidation of the lecithin liposome membrane was studied, induced by ultraviolet light and Fe2+ ions with ascorbic acid added. The salts differed in alkyl chain length Ri having the following alkyl substitutents: R1 = C9H19; R2 = C10H21; R3 = C12H25; R4 = CH2OC14H29; R5 = CH2OC16H33. It was found that all the salts used induced inhibition in oxidation of the liposome membrane, both that induced by UV light and ferrous ions. The antioxidant activity of the salts studied, dependent on the chain length and concentration, can be represented by the relation R1 < R2< R3 < R4 < R5. A similar dependence was obtained when the hemolytic activity of compounds was studied. Activity of salts increase with alkyl chain length.