FIG. 6.

The malondialdehyde (MDA) assay shows that plasma treatment leads to lipid peroxidation in E. coli. (A and B) Both an isolated membrane-rich fraction of E. coli (A) and intact E. coli cells (B) show a dose-dependent generation of MDA, the lipid peroxidation product. This peroxidation is inhibited by the antioxidant α-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E [VitE]), suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress-mediated damage. The values are means ± SDs (error bars) for 3 experiments. The numbers above the bars followed by one asterisk are P values comparing the value to the value for the untreated control. The numbers followed by two asterisks are P values comparing the value to the value for the corresponding plasma treatment condition without vitamin E.