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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
Published on: April 11, 2014
Excess Ascorbate is a Chemical Stress Agent against Proteins and Cells
Maria Lehene1, Eva Fischer-Fodor2,3, Florina Scurtu3
1Department of Chemistry, Babes-Bolyai University, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Abstract:
Excess ascorbate (as expected in intravenous treatment proposed for COVID-19 management, for example) oxidizes and/or degrades hemoglobin and albumin, as evidenced by UV-vis spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. It also degrades hemoglobin in intact blood or in isolated erythrocytes. The survival rates and metabolic activities of several leukocyte subsets implicated in the antiviral cellular immune response are also affected. Excess ascorbate is thus an unselective biological stress agent.
