Since the beginning of the 1990's diverse types of metabolites originating from polyunsaturated fatty acids, formed under autooxidative conditions were discovered. Known as prostaglandin isomers (or isoprostanoids) originating from arachidonic acid, neuroprostanes from docosahexaenoic acid, and phytoprostanes from α-linolenic acid proved to be prevalent in biology. The syntheses of these compounds by organic chemists and the development of sophisticated mass spectrometry methods has boosted our understanding of the isoprostanoid biology. In recent years, it has become accepted that these molecules not only serve as markers of oxidative damage but also exhibit a wide range of bioactivities. In addition, isoprostanoids have emerged as indicators of oxidative stress in humans and their environment. This review explores in detail the isoprostanoid chemistry and biology that has been achieved in the past three decades.

The growing importance of lipidomics, and the interest of non-enzymatic metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prompted us to initiate the synthesis of novel dihomo-IsoF compounds. Such metabolites of adrenic acid, the main PUFA in white matter, were synthesized using a divergent approach based on an orthoester cyclization. LC-MS/MS investigation on pig brains showed the potential of this novel biomarker for the first time, as a powerful new tool for brain lipid peroxidation assessment.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are oxidized in vivo under oxidative stress through free radical pathway and release cyclic oxygenated metabolites, which are commonly classified as isoprostanes and isofurans. The discovery of isoprostanes goes back twenty-five years compared to fifteen years for isofurans, and great many are discovered. The biosynthesis, the nomenclature, the chemical synthesis of furanoids from α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 n-3), arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4 n-6), adrenic acid (AdA, 22:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) as well as their identification and implication in biological systems are highlighted in this review.

Neurofurans (NeuroFs) and dihomo-isofurans (dihomo-IsoFs) are produced in vivo by non-enzymatic free-radical pathways from docosahexaenoic and adrenic acids, respectively. As these metabolites are produced in minute amounts, their analyses in biological samples remain challenging. Syntheses of neurofuran and dihomo-isofurans described are based on a pivotal strategy, thanks to an enantiomerically enriched intermediate, which allowed, for the first time, access to both families: the alkenyl and enediol. Owing to this formation, quantitation of specific NeuroF and dihomo-IsoFs in biological samples was attainable.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an abundant fatty acid in the brain, is susceptible to auto‐oxidation in situ and releases metabolites such as F4‐neuroprostane (4‐F4t‐NeuroP). The presence of 4‐F4t‐NeuroP in the brain is not well explored. In this study, 4‐F4t‐NeuroP was introduced into neuroblastoma cells (SH‐SY5Y) and, by in vivo infusion, into rodents. Targeted lipidomic analysis of liver and brain tissues shows significant elevation of anti‐inflammatory hydroxylated DHA metabolites and an isomer of neuroprotectin D1, suggesting potential beneficial bioactivities of 4‐F4t‐NeuroP. Additionally, 4‐F4t‐NeuroP treatment in SH‐SY5Y cells and primary neuronal culture consistently upregulates the transcriptional level of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase‐1, but the effect is reduced when 4‐F4t‐NeuroP is further oxidized. Our data suggest that 4‐F4t‐NeuroP could be neuroprotective in the native state but may have disadvantageous bioactivity when oxidized extensively.

The effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl) induced oxidative stress in rats were determined by the generation of isoprostanoids. These are known to be robust biomarkers to evaluate nonenzymatic and free radical related oxidation. Other oxidative stress biomarkers such as hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid products (HETEs) and cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) were also determined. The rodents received a control diet, high-fat diet (20% w/w) composed of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), corn oil (CO), or lard, and high-fat diets with CCl insult throughout the experimental period. The EVOO diet was found to suppress the formation of isoprostanoids and COPs compared to that of the control. EVOO also had a high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to those of CO and lard and may be contributed to by the hydroxytyrosol component conjugated to fatty acids (HT-FA). This is the first study to identify HT-FA in EVOO, and it was 4-fold higher than that of olive oil, whereas none was found in corn oil. Furthermore, the EVOO diet showed reduced liver lipid vesicles in CCl treated rats compared to that of the control. However, liver toxicity measurements of AST (aspartate transaminase) and ALT (alanine transaminase) activities showed augmentation with CCl treatment but were not alleviated by the diets given. Our findings suggest that EVOO is a daily functional food capable of enhancing the antioxidant system for liver protection; the effect is potentially attributed to the phenolic and lipophenolic (phenol conjugated by fatty acids) content.

Oxygenated lipid products of non-cyclooxygenase derivatives, namely, prostanoids such as, isoprostanes and isofurans, are formed in vivo through lipid autoxidation. Insofar it has been marked as novel biomarkers of oxidative stress in the biological systems. Elevations of these oxidized products are associated with several diseases. This chapter describes the preparation and measurement of the products, including newly identified F-dihomo-isoprostanes and dihomo-isofurans, from plasma and tissue samples using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach.

Oxygenated lipid mediators released from non-enzymatic peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are known to have functional roles in humans. Notably, among these lipid mediators, isoprostanes molecules are robust biomarkers of oxidative stress but those from n-3 PUFA are also bioactive molecules. In order to identify and assess the isoprostanes, the use of mass spectrometry (MS) for analysis is preferable and has been used for over two decades. Gas chromatography (GC) is commonly coupled to the MS to separate the derivatized isoprostanes of interest in biological samples. In order to increase the accuracy of the analytical performance, GC-MS/MS was also applied. Lately, MS or MS/MS has been coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography to assess multiple isoprostane molecules in a single biological sample without derivatization process. However, there are limitations for the use of LC-MS/MS in the measurement of plasma isoprostanes, which will be discussed in this review.