Dehydroascorbic acid

Dehydroascorbic acid is the major oxidized form of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and is produced by the oxidation of ascorbic acid. It is a small molecule that can be actively transported into cells via glucose transporters such as GLUT1 and GLUT10. Once inside cells or across the blood-brain barrier, it is reduced back to ascorbic acid by glutathione and other thiols. Dehydroascorbic acid has similar biological activity to ascorbic acid but demonstrates stronger antiviral effects against viruses like herpes simplex virus type 1, influenza virus type A, and poliovirus type 1. Unlike ascorbic acid, it can cross the blood-brain barrier and has shown neuroprotective effects in experimental models of ischemic stroke by reducing infarct volume and neurological deficits. The exact mechanism of action remains under investigation but includes post-replication inhibition of viral assembly for its antiviral effect[1][3][7]. Currently, dehydroascorbic acid is considered an experimental drug with no approved indications[2][5].

Other names

L-dehydroascorbatedehydro-L-ascorbic acid