Vitamin C Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin C, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, information.

A novel vitamin C analog, 2-O-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid: examination of enzymatic synthesis and biological activity.

Toyada-Ono Y, Maeda M, Nakao M, Yoshimura M, Sugiura-Tomimori N, Fukami H, Nishioka H, Miyashita Y, Kojo S

Institute for Health Care Science, Technological Development Center, Suntory Ltd., 5-2-5 Yamazaki, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka 618-0001, Japan.

2-O-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid (AA 2 beta G) isolated from a popular traditional Chinese food (Lycium fruit) was synthesized using cellulase derived from Trichoderma sp. with cellobiose as a glucose donor. 6-O-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid as well as AA 2 beta G was also synthesized in this reaction. The vitamin C activity of AA 2 beta G was also evaluated using inherently scorbutic (osteogenic disorder Shionogi [ODS]) rats. The rats were fed vitamin C-deficient food and water containing AA 2 beta G for 21. AA 2 beta G supported their growth and the level of vitamin C in tissues was moderately maintained. The vitamin C level in some tissues depended on the hydrolytic activity of AA 2 beta G (beta-glucosidase activity) although the correlation was not statistically significant (P=0.08). The results indicate that AA 2 beta G has pro-vitamin C activity.

Published 19 October 2005 in J Biosci Bioeng, 99(4): 361-5.
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