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Vitamin C: electron emission, free radicals and biological versatility
1Department for Nutritional Sciences, The University of Vienna, Section of Radiation Biology, Vienna, Austria. nikola.getoff@univie.ac.at
Abstract:
The many-sided biological role of vitamin C (ascorbate) is briefly illustrated by specific examples. It is demonstrated that in aqueous solutions, vitamin C emits solvated electrons (e(aq)(-)), when excited in single state. Vitamin C can also react with e(aq)(-) as well as transfer them to other biological systems and thereby acts as efficient electron mediator. Based on its chemical and biological properties, it is clear that vitamin C plays a very important role in various functions in the organism alongside biochemical processes.
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