Define the ascorbic acid - basic concepts, Biology

Assignment Help:

Define the Ascorbic Acid - Basic Concepts?

Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, whose structure is shown in Figure. You would have noticed that its structure resembles glucose.

570_Ascorbic Acid – Basic Concepts.png

Figure: Structure of vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

As the name suggests, ascorbic acid is acidic in nature and a pure solution of this white crystalline substance has a pH of about 3. Ascorbic acid also have two possible enantiomers - the L and the D form. The D form of ascorbic acid is generally inactive as anti-scorbutic agents and naturally occurring ascorbic acid occurs in L form. Ascorbic acid is stable in solid form and in acidic solutions but is easily destroyed in alkaline solutions.

Oxidative destruction of ascorbic acid is accelerated by increasing the pH. Some mammals like rat can synthesize the vitamin from glucose by the uronic acid pathway. However, primates like humans and some other animals like guinea pig, bats, fish, birds cannot synthesize this vitamin. They lack the enzyme L gulonolactone oxidase which prevents its synthesis from glucose. Since these species from the animal kingdom cannot produce ascorbic acid, they have to obtain it entirely through the diet. Hence, its importance. The vitamin exists in the body largely in the reduced form with reversible equilibrium with a relatively small amount of dehydro ascorbic acid. Both forms are physiologically and metabolically active. We are already familiar with the functions of vitamin C.


Related Discussions:- Define the ascorbic acid - basic concepts

Iaa stimulates cell enlargement, IAA Stimulates Cell Enlargement Cell...

IAA Stimulates Cell Enlargement Cell wall contains layer of cellulose fibrils and are normally quite rigid. Thus for a cell to grow, there must be a mechanism for relaxing th

Visceral larva migrans, Visceral larva migrans Visceral larva migrans,...

Visceral larva migrans Visceral larva migrans, also known as larval granulomatosis, is a clinical syndrome produced by the extra-intestinal migration of larval nematodes and i

Define broken instrument removal procedures, Define Broken Instrument Remov...

Define Broken Instrument Removal Procedures File or reamer Gates-glidden Peso drills Lentulo spiral paste fillers Thermomechanical gutta-percha computer

Define methods of prevention and control of anaemia, Define methods of prev...

Define methods of prevention and control of anaemia? The available methods of prevention and control of anaemia are: Supplementation Food fortification Dietary

Explain the importance of biochemical tests, Explain the Importance of Bioc...

Explain the Importance of Biochemical Tests? Specific series of biochemical tests have been developed for fast identification of microorganisms in laboratories. These biochemic

What is barr body genes, Q. What is Barr body Genes? Located inside nuc...

Q. What is Barr body Genes? Located inside nuclear envelope, it's a densely staining object which is an inactivated X chromosome in female mammalian cells. Most Barr body genes

Nutrition education for prevention of vitamin a deficiency, Define Nutritio...

Define Nutrition Education for prevention of vitamin a deficiency? Ignorance, you may recall studying earlier, is an important determinant of vitamin A deficiency. There is, th

Feeding habit, what is the mode nutrition exibited by tape worm?

what is the mode nutrition exibited by tape worm?

Ways to adapt to stress, Ways to adapt to stress Now that you know the...

Ways to adapt to stress Now that you know the nature of stress, let us see what type of strategies plants have acquired to adapt to stress. You know that biological functions

Fuel requirements - deforestation, Fuel Requirements - Deforestation T...

Fuel Requirements - Deforestation The increasing demand for fuel wood is one of the major factors leading to the degradation of the forest ecosystem. Fuel wood is of such majo

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd