Mechanism of inhibition of lipid peroxidation by tamoxifen and 4‐hydroxytamoxifen introduced into liposomes

The anticancer drug tamoxifen when introduced into phospholipid liposomes during their preparation inhibited Fe(III)‐ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation to a greater extent than similarly introduced cholesterol. Ergosterol was equipotent with tamoxifen, but much less effective than 4‐hydroxytamoxifen. Possible mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed in relation to structural mimicry of the sterols by these triphenylethylene drugs as membrane stabilizers against lipid peroxidation.