Supramolecular Aggregates from Vitamin C Derivatives:
Structure and Properties
Pierandrea Lo Nostro
University of Florence - Department of Chemistry
via Gino Capponi, 9
50121 Firenze (Italy)
E-mail: LONOSTRO@HOTMAIL.COM
voice: + 39 55 275-7575
FAX: + 39 55 24.08.65
Received:15 June 1997
Received in revised form: 18 July 1997
Accepted: 18 July 1997
Published: 18 July 1997
Copyright © 1997 Internet Journal of Science -
Biological Chemistry
Contents
Summary
L-ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, is a strong and powerful
water-soluble antioxidant, that efficiently protects important
organic and biological molecules against oxidative degradation.
It works even better in conjunction with other antioxidants, such
as vitamin E (tocopherols) and carotenoids, by establishing a
peculiar recycling system with a synergic effect, that
will be discussed later on.
However, due to its very poor solubility in non-aqueous media,
ascorbic acid cannot be used to protect hydrophobic systems such
as fats, biomembrane lipids, or other vitamins. It is therefore
essential to synthesize lipophilic derivatives that are soluble
in hydrophobic phases, produce supramolecular aggregates in
water, and hold the same antioxidant properties.
A relevant part of this review is devoted to the explanation
of the mechanism involved in the peroxidation of membrane lipids,
and to the possible applications of ascorbic acid derivatives as
antioxidant for the prevention and therapy of several diseases.
Acknowledgments
Thanks are due to the Italian Ministry of the University,
to the "Consorzio
per lo Studio dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase" (CSGI,
Florence), and to the European Union for partial
financial support.
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Summary