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THE ASCORBIC ACID SYSTEM IN PLANT TISSUES
Author(s) -
BARKER J.,
MAPSON L. W.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1959.tb05334.x
Subject(s) - dehydroascorbic acid , ascorbic acid , chemistry , extraction (chemistry) , chromatography , methanol , biochemistry , food science , organic chemistry
S ummary Evidence is presented which shows that when plant tissues are extracted with metaphosphoric acid at room temperature, some oxidation of ascorbic acid to dehydroascorbic acid occurs. This oxidation was diminished, though no conclusive proof was obtained that it was eliminated, by extracting the tissue with either metaphosphoric acid at —3°C or with methanol‐metaphosphoric acid at —70°C, in the absence of oxygen. An effect attributed to disorganization occurred if the tissue was held in the frozen state and as a result ascorbic acid Avas oxidized during disintegration in an acid extractant. The effect of disorganization was greater when the period in the frozen state was extended. The lowest values for dehydroascorbic acid in plant tissues have been obtained, either by extraction in metaphosphoric acid at —3°C or by rapid freezing and immediate extraction with methanol‐metaphosphoric acid solution at —70°C, both extractions being carried out in the absence of oxygen. These procedures gave similar results within the limits of experimental error.