Table 2

Reactive species scavenged by ascorbic acid

Chemical species
Reaction rate (M-1s-1)

Reactive oxygen species

Hydroxyl radical
1.1 × 1010
Alkoxyl radical
1.6 × 109
Peroxy radical
1.2 × 106
Superoxide anion/ hydroperoxy radical
1.0 × 105
Reactive nitrogen species

Dinitrogen trioxide/dinitrogen tetroxide
1.2 × 109
Peroxynitrite/peroxynitrous acid
235
Antioxidant derived radicals

Alpha-tocopherol radical
2 × 105
Urate radical
1 × 106
Thiyl/sulphenyl radical
6 × 108

Adapted from Carr and Frei [15]

Naidu Nutrition Journal 2003 2:7   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-2-7