What is  tocopherols

Vitamin  E  refers  to a  group  of  compounds known  as  which  are the derivatives of a parent compound called as  'tocol'. Four tocopherols namely a, P, y and 6-tocopherols  have been  isolated. They differ from each other in the number and position of  methyl  groups attached  to  the aromatic nucleus. While  fi  and  y- tocopherols have two methyl groups, a and 6-tocopherols  have three and one methyl groups, respectively.  All of  these  compounds possess  comparable  physiological properties, although a-tocopherol which  is synthesized commercially is most potent. Some tocopherols are derivatives of tocotrienol, which has three double bonds in  the aliphatic side chain. Structure of a-tocopherol  is shown in Figure