Abstract
The antiscorbutic effect of Actinidia polygama Maxim. tea on guinea pigs was investigated by measuring body weight gain and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents of the liver, adrenal glands and spleen. The results were as follows: 1) The body weight gain in AsA-supplemented groups was almost the same as that in Actinidia polygama Maxim. tea-supplemented groups. 2) When the AsA dosage given to guinea pigs was the same as the amount of total AsA in Actinidia polygama Maxim. tea, the AsA content in the organs of the AsA-supplemented groups was similar to that in the tea-supplemented groups. 3) Although the AsA-deficient animals did not show any significant difference in final body weight gain compared with the other groups, a very small amount of AsA was found in all three organs (liver, adrenal glands and spleen) investigated.
