LIPID PEROXIDATION AND RADICAL FORMATION IN METHYL LINOLEATE FOLLOWING ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT EXPOSURE

Abstract

ABSTRACT To gain information useful in understanding radical reactions of sunlight‐induced lipid peroxidation in the skin, methyl linoleate (ML) was used as a material for a study of electron spin resonance (ESR). The ESR spectrum of ML exposed to UV light was examined under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at low temperature. No ESR signal was detected from the unexposed ML, even at —150°C. However, exposure to UV resulted in the appearance of an ESR signal at —150°C. With the elevation of temperature from —150°C, the ESR signal became asymmetric in shape and the g value increased under aerobic conditions, but these alterations did not occur under anaerobic conditions. Lipid peroxidation through a radical reaction initiated by UV exposure was discussed.