Abstract
Living is like getting irradiated. This is because we are constantly exposed to oxidants such as Superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen. These reactive oxygen species are generated during normal oxidative metabolism, for example by spontaneous autoxidation of electron transport carriers in mitochondria, or as a result of the action of oxidases.1 One of these oxidases, the NADPH oxidase of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) (primarily neutrophils and eosinophils), is pivotal to the body’s defense against pathogenic microorganisms. The immediate product of the stimulus-induced activation of the NADPH oxidase of PMNs is Superoxide anion, whereas subsequent reactions form further oxidants including hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, and chloramines.2,3 These oxidants not only kill the invading microorganisms, but also can cause considerable oxidative damage to the host himself. Other sources of oxidants to which we are constantly exposed include our diet, polluted air (particularly from smoking), natural radio active gases,e.g. radon leaching from soils, and some drugs.4,5
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B. Chance, H. Sies, and A. Boveris, Hydroperoxide metabolism in mammalian organs, Physiol. Rev. 59:527 (1979).
S. J. Klebanoff, Phagocytic cells: products of oxygen metabolism, in: “Inflammation: Basic Principles and Clinical Correlates,” pp. 391, J. I. Gallin, I. M. Goldstein, and R. Snyderman, eds., Raven Press, New York, (1988).
S. J. Weiss, M. B. Lampert, and S. T. Test, Long-lived oxidants generated by human neutrophils: characterization and bioactivity, Science 222:625 (1983).
B. N. Ames, Dietary carcinogens and anticarcinogens, Science 221:1256 (1983).
B. N. Ames, R. Magaw, and L. S. Gold, Ranking possible carcinogenic hazards, Science 236:271 (1987).
H. Esterbauer and K. H. Cheeseman, eds., “Lipid Peroxidation: Part II. Pathological Implications,” Chem. Phys. Lipids 45, Nos. 2–4 (1987).
B. Halliwell, Albumin-an important extracellular antioxidant? Biochem. Pharmacol. 37:569 (1988).
O. I. Aruoma and B. Halliwell, Superoxide-dependent and ascorbate-dependent formation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron. Are lactoferrin and transferrin promoters of hydroxyl-radical generation? Biochem. J. 241:273 (1987).
J. M. C. Gutteridge, Antioxidant properties of caeruloplasmin towards iron-and copper-dependent oxygen radical formation, FEBS Lett. 157:37 (1983).
B. Frei, R. Stocker, and B. N. Ames, Antioxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation in human blood plasma, Proc. Natl. Äcad. Sci. USA 85:9748 (1988).
Y. Yamamoto, M. H. Brodsky, J. C. Baker, and B. N. Ames, Detection and characterization of lipid hydroperoxides at picomole levels by high-performance liquid chromatography, Anal. Biochem. 160:7 (1987).
B. Frei, Y. Yamamoto, D. Niclas, and B. N. Ames, Evaluation of an isoluminol chemiluminescence assay for the detection of hydroperoxides in human blood plasma, Anal. Biochem. 175:120 (1988).
R. Stocker, A. N. Glazer, and B. N. Ames, Antioxidant activity of albumin-bound bilirubin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:5918 (1987).
E. Heimerhorst and G. B. Stokes, Microcentrifuge desalting: a rapid, quantitative method for desalting small amounts of protein, Anal. Biochem. 104:130 (1980).
B. Halliwell, M. Wasil, and M. Grootveld, Biologically significant scavenging of the myeloperoxidase-derived oxidant hypochlorous acid by ascorbic acid. Implications for antioxidant protection in the inflamed rheumatoid joint, FEBS Lett. 213:15 (1987).
M. Grootveld, B. Halliwell, and C. P. Moorhouse, Action of uric acid, allopurinol and oxypurinol on the myeloperoxidase-derived oxidant hypochlorous acid, Free Rad. Res. Comms. 4:69 (1987).
R. Stocker, A. Lai, E. Peterhans, and B. N. Ames, Antioxidant properties of bilirubin and biliverdin, in: “Medical, Biochemical and Chemical Aspects of Free Radicals,” E. Niki and T. Yoshikawa, eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam, in press.
C. Lentner, “Geigy Scientific Tables,” p. 122, Ciba-Geigy Limited, Basle (1984)
G. W. Burton, A. Joyce, and K. U. Ingold, First proof that vitamin E is the major lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant in human blood plasma, Lancet 2:327 (1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Frei, B., Stocker, R., England, L., Ames, B.N. (1990). Ascorbate: The Most Effective Antioxidant in Human Blood Plasma. In: Emerit, I., Packer, L., Auclair, C. (eds) Antioxidants in Therapy and Preventive Medicine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 264. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5730-8_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5730-8_24
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5732-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5730-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive