The antioxidative effect of fullerenes C(60) and C(70) was examined by measuring the inhibition of methyl linoleate (MeL) peroxidation in toluene initiated by 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). The fullerenes retarded the formation of MeL hydroperoxides and lowered the rate of propagation. The reaction rates of fullerenes with AMVN-derived peroxyl radicals were much higher than that of MeL. These results indicate that fullerenes can act as retarders of lipid peroxidation, though their activity is low compared with that of α-tocopherol.
