Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Ascorbic acid, metal ions and the superoxide radical.

B Halliwell, C H Foyer

    The Biochemical Journal
    |June 1, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Professor Charles Percival Whittingham (1922-2011).

    Photosynthetica·2024
    Same author

    Ethylene signaling triggered by low concentrations of ascorbic acid regulates biomass accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

    Free radical biology & medicine·2018
    Same author

    Vitamin C: the key to health or a slow-acting carcinogen?

    Redox report : communications in free radical research·2016
    Same author

    Mechanisms of antioxidant activities of quercetin and catechin.

    Redox report : communications in free radical research·2016
    Same author

    The presence of glutathione and glutathione reductase in chloroplasts: A proposed role in ascorbic acid metabolism.

    Planta·2014
    Same author

    Properties and physiological function of a glutathione reductase purified from spinach leaves by affinity chromatography.

    Planta·2014
    Same journal

    Mechanistic insights into acetylated histone recognition by the CECR2 bromodomain.

    The Biochemical journal·2026
    Same journal

    Nanobodies against Plasmodium adhesins that block receptor engagement and malaria parasite invasion.

    The Biochemical journal·2026
    Same journal

    Persistence without turnover: the RhoG G12E mutant highlights the role of nucleotide cycling in RhoG signaling.

    The Biochemical journal·2026
    Same journal

    Alternative Splicing of Rice Chloroplastic CuZn Superoxide Dismutase, OsCSD2: Impact on expression and protein characteristics.

    The Biochemical journal·2026
    Same journal

    Difference and similarity between the ubiquitous secretory pathway Ca2+-ATPases, SERCA2b, and SPCA1a.

    The Biochemical journal·2026
    Same journal

    A molecular perspective on dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases structure and function.

    The Biochemical journal·2026
    See all related articles

    Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) does not produce superoxide radicals during alkaline autoxidation. Instead, it may protect against these harmful radicals in vivo, particularly when metal ions like iron or copper are present.

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Oxidative Stress

    Background:

    • Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a potent antioxidant.
    • Superoxide radical (O2-) is a reactive oxygen species implicated in cellular damage.
    • The role of ascorbic acid in relation to superoxide production under alkaline conditions is not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the production of superoxide radicals during the autoxidation of ascorbic acid at alkaline pH.
    • To examine the influence of metal ions (Fe2+ and Cu2+) on ascorbic acid oxidation.
    • To determine the potential protective role of ascorbic acid against superoxide radicals in vivo.

    Main Methods:

    • Autoxidation of ascorbic acid at alkaline pH (10.2).
    • Addition of metal ions (Fe2+, Cu2+) and chelating agents (EDTA).

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Use of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to assess superoxide radical involvement.
  • Spectrophotometric analysis of ascorbic acid oxidation and superoxide radical detection.

    • Main Results:

    • No evidence of superoxide radical production during autoxidation of ascorbic acid at alkaline pH.
    • Metal ions (Fe2+, Cu2+) stimulated ascorbic acid oxidation at pH 10.2.
    • Superoxide dismutase abolished Fe2+-stimulated oxidation, suggesting indirect O2- generation.
    • EDTA altered the mechanism of Fe2+-stimulated oxidation.
    • Cu2+-stimulated oxidation effects with SOD were likely artifacts.

    Conclusions:

    • Ascorbic acid does not generate superoxide radicals under alkaline autoxidation conditions.
    • Ascorbic acid may play a protective role against superoxide radicals in biological systems.
    • Metal ion interactions with ascorbic acid are complex and can involve indirect superoxide generation.