Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic Acid, also known as Vitamin C, is a six-carbon lactone produced by plants and some animal species but not by humans and other primates. Ascorbic acid functions as an enzymatic cofactor for multiple enzymes, serving as an electron donor for monooxygenases and dioxygenases. Ascorbic acid also functions as a powerful antioxidant, particularly in regards to reactive oxygen species.

L-Ascorbic acid is an anti-oxidant. L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is important for many enzymatic reactions for maintaining prosthetic metal ions in their reduced forms (for example, Fe²⁺, Cu⁺). It protects tissues from oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals.^[2] It has mild reductive ability and nontoxic property. It is commonly employed reductant in the laboratory.^[3] Colorimetric determination of ascorbic acid in plasma using acid phosphotungstate has been reported.^[1]