3-O-alkylascorbic acids as free radical quenchers. 3. Protective effect on coronary occlusion-reperfusion induced arrhythmias in anesthetized rats

Structural modification of ascorbic acid by substitution of the 3-hydroxy group with lipophilic moieties has allowed the development of agents for treating reperfusion injury. These ascorbic acid derivatives inhibited lipid peroxidation, and some of them also reduced coronary reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in anesthetized rats. We found that 3-O-[(dodecylcarbonyl)methyl]ascorbic acid (8) was protective against reperfusion injury without directly influencing hemodynamics. 2-O-Octadecylascorbic acid (19) and 5,6-O-dodecylideneascorbic acid (15) also exhibited a marked effect on reperfusion injury, but significantly reduced the arterial blood pressure and heart rate in rats.