Abstract
The antiscorbutic activity of 5,6-O-isopropylidene ascorbic acid (IAsA) and 5,6-O-isopropylidene ascorbic acid 2-sulfate (IAsS) in Hartley guinea pig fed a scorbutigenic diet has been investigated. Oral administration (0.1 mmol/animal) of IAsA completely prevented development of scurvy and continued to increase in body weight throughout the feeding experiment in guinea pig. An equimolar dose of IAsS did not prevent scurvy, and total vitamin C levels in tissues of IAsS-administrated animals were similar to those in C-free animals. The vitamin C Levels (μmol/ml or g) of IAsA, ascorbic acid (ASA), IAsS, and vitamin C deficient groups after the feeding test (IAsA, ASA group : 40 days, IAsS, C deficient group: 20 days) were 0.14, 0.11, 0.01, and 0.01 in blood, 4.90, 3.97, 0.07, and 0.05 in liver, 1.89, 1.47, 0.08, and 0.02 in kidney, respectively.
