Abstract

3-Tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (3-BHA) was metabolized in the presence of horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide to 2-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (TBQ), 2,3-epoxy-5-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (TBQ-epoxide), and two known dimers. The formation of TBQ from 3-BHA required both horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. When 2.5 mM 3-BHA was incubated with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, the formation of TBQ increased with hydrogen peroxide concentration up to 5 mM and decreased gradually at higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, the formation of TBQ-epoxide from 3-BHA increased, depending on hydrogen peroxide concentration at higher concentrations than 1 mM. In incubating 2-tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, TBHQ was rapidly oxidized to TBQ, and then TBQ-epoxide was also produced at concentrations more than 2.5 mM of hydrogen peroxide. In the absence of horseradish peroxidase, the incubation of TBQ with hydrogen peroxide resulted in TBQ-epoxide production. These results suggest that 3-BHA is metabolized to TBHQ, which is rapidly oxidized to TBQ, by horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, and then TBQ is converted to TBQ-epoxide by only hydrogen peroxide.