Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) enhanced the peroxidase-induced lipid peroxidation in phosphatidylcholine liposomes, as measured by loss of fluorescence of cis-parinaric acid. α-Tocopherol or β-carotene in the lipid phase or ascorbate or Trolox in the aqueous phase inhibited the loss of fluorescence induced by the peroxidase + IAA system, but glutathione had only a small inhibitory effect. The peroxyl radical formed by one-electron oxidation of IAA, followed by decarboxylation and reaction with oxygen, is suggested to act as the initiator of lipid peroxidation. The protection by ascorbate or Trolox is explained by the reactivity of these compounds with the IAA indolyl radical, as shown by pulse radiolysis experiments, whereas the weak effect of glutathione agrees with its low reactivity towards the IAA-derived peroxyl radical and its precursors.