Vitamin E extracted from palm oil useful in boosting immune response based on studies on liver cells

The findings of a new study conducted on mice liver cells reveal that vitamin-e extracted from palm oil helps in boosting the immune response of the body.

Palm oil contains abundant quantities of vitamin E compounds, which include tocopherols and tocotrienols.

These compounds have antioxidant effects, which protect cells from damage from toxic chemicals produced by metabolic processes.

While tocopherol is a widely known and researched compound, there remains much to learn about tocotrienols.

A team of researchers from Malaysia and Libya recently investigated the effect of tocotrienols extracted from palm oil on mice liver cells.

The team investigated the expression levels of genes influenced by a transcription factor Nrf2, and the translocation of the same factor into the cellular nucleus.

Nrf2 is known to upregulate phase II drug metabolism in reaction to metabolic processes.

The genes activate cellular defence mechanisms. "Our study is the first in vivo study on the effect of tocotrienols on Nrf2on genetic material in the nucleus," said Azman Abdullah (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), the corresponding author of the study.