Ácido L-ascórbico: reações de complexação e de óxido-redução com alguns íons metálicos de transição

The strong reducing action of L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are of fundamental interest in biochemical and related process. The oxidation of ascorbic acid by molecular oxygen and others oxidants are of fundamental importance, involving the intervention of transition metal ions as catalysts and the formation transition metal complexes of ascorbic acid as intermediates. The present article is intended to cover some aspects of the reactions of ascorbic acid and related compounds involving some transition metal ions.

Risk factors for colorectal cancer in subjects with family history of the disease.

The relationship between lifestyle factors, past medical conditions, daily meal frequency, diet and the risk of 'familial' colorectal cancer has been analysed using data from a case-control study conducted in northern Italy. A total of 1584 colorectal cancer patients and 2879 control subjects were admitted to a network of hospitals in the Greater Milan area and the Pordenone province. The subjects included for analysis were the 112 cases and the 108 control subjects who reported a family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives. Colorectal cancer cases and control subjects with family history were similarly distributed according to sex, age, marital status, years of schooling and social class. Familial colorectal cancer was associated with meal frequency, medical history of diabetes (relative risk, RR = 4.6) and cholelithiasis (RR = 5.2). Significant positive trends of increasing risk with more frequent consumption were observed for pasta (RR = 2.5, for the highest vs the lowest intake tertile), pastries (RR = 2.4), red meat (RR = 2.9), canned meat (RR = 1.9), cheese (RR = 3.5) and butter (RR = 1.9). Significant inverse associations and trends in risk were observed for consumption of poultry (RR = 0.4), tomatoes (RR = 0.2), peppers (RR = 0.3) and lettuce (RR = 0.3). Significant inverse trends in risk with increasing consumption for beta-carotene and ascorbic acid were observed (RR = 0.5 and 0.4 respectively, highest vs lowest intake tertile). These results suggest that risk factors for subjects with a family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives are not appreciably different from recognized risk factors of the disease in the general population.

Experimentos didáticos utilizando sistema de análise por injeção em fluxo

Didactic experiments are proposed in order to demonstrate the characteristics of flow injection analysis and to extend the applications of FIA to the determination of physical chemistry parameters in undergraduate labs. All experiments can be performed with the same flow manifold by employing usual FIA devices. Analytical characteristics are presented by means of the determination of iron in river water, employing 1,10-phenantroline as chromogenic reagent. Physical chemistry applications were the determination of reaction stoichiometries by continuous variation and mole-ratio methods and the evaluation of the pH and ionic strength effects on the kinetic of the reduction of hexacianoferrate(III) by ascorbic acid.

Filmes de metal-hexacianoferrato: uma ferramenta em química analítica

Chemically modified electrodes based on hexacyanometalate films are presented as a tool in analytical chemistry. Use of amperometric sensors and/or biosensors based on the metal-hexacyanoferrate films is a tendency. This article reviews some applications of these films for analytical determination of both inorganic (e.g. As3+, S2O3(2-)) and organic (e.g. cysteine, hydrazine, ascorbic acid, gluthatione, glucose, etc.) compounds.

Uso analítico de tecidos e de extratos brutos vegetais como fonte enzimática

This article describes the current status of several analytical methodologies using vegetal tissue and crude extracts as enzymatic source. In this divulgation paper the obtention of vegetal crude extract and/or tissue and selected enzymatic procedures are presented emphasizing its characteristics and peculiarities. Examples of many biosensors and/or flow injection procedures using vegetal tissues or crude extracts for the determination of many analytes, such as amines, ascorbic acid, ethanol, glutamate, hydrogen peroxide, oxalic acid, pectins, phenolic compounds and urea of biologic, environmental, food, pharmaceutical and industrial interests are also given and discussed.

Avaliação do teor e da estabilidade de vitaminas do complexo B e vitamina C em bebidas isotônicas e energéticas

Vitamin C stability and concentration was evaluated in isotonic beverages and B group vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6) in power beverages. The amount of vitamins was found to be above of that declared on the labels, even after the shelf life had been exceeded. A small decrease in the amount of B group vitamins was observed during the shelf life of the products. In the case of vitamin C this decrease was slightly higher. The present research shows the need of increased quality control and inspection.

Determinação simultânea dos ácidos orgânicos tartárico, málico, ascórbico e cítrico em polpas de acerola, açaí e caju e avaliação da estabilidade em sucos de caju

The aim of the present study was determining the main organic acids in pulp and juices, as well as evaluating their stability, after opening the package, by liquid chromatography in a C18 column with isocratic elution and UV detection. In açaí pulp tartaric, malic and citric acids were found. Cashew samples presented all of the organic acids evaluated, besides high concentrations of ascorbic and malic acids. Acerola pulp had the highest ascorbic acid concentration. A small decrease in organic acid content during storage was observed. Malic and citric acids seem to be more stable than tartaric and ascorbic acids.

Uso de scanner em espectrofotometria de absorção molecular: aplicação em experimento didático enfocando a determinação de ácido ascórbico

Quantitative analysis of colored substances is generally performed using a spectrophotometer for detection of radiation. However, the combination of digital images and mathematical conversion of colors is an alternative for quantitative procedures based on colored chemical reactions. This work proposes a didactic experiment using a scanner for determination of ascorbic acid in medicines based on the formation of the Prussian blue complex. Results were in good agreement with a conventional spectrophotometer method and the procedure is attractive for instrumental analysis undergraduate courses.

Determinación de vitamina C, compuestos fenólicos totales y actividad antioxidante de frutas de guayaba (Psidium guajava L.) cultivadas en Colombia

Some physicochemical parameters, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (AA) measured by ABTS, FRAP and DPPH methods were determinated in four different varieties of ripe guava produced in Colombia. Samples were statistically similar in their titratable acidity. Soluble solids were statistically similar and higher in "Pear", "Pink Regional", and "White Regional", but lower in "Apple" guavas. Vitamin C was statistically lower in "Pear" guava. Phenolics, ABTS-, FRAP-, and DPPH-AA were statistically lower in "Apple" guava if compared in wet basis. "Pink Regional" and "White Regional" contained the highest levels in vitamin C, phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Interferência do acido ascórbico na determinação de açúcares redutores pelo método de Lane e Eynon

Two studies, both set up as completely randomized design, in a 5x5 and 7x5 factorial schemes, evaluated the interference of 5 and 7 ascorbic acid concentrations and 5 glucose or 5 sucrose concentrations, respectively, on the determination of total and reducing sugars by Lane and Eynon method. The ascorbic acid reducing power (AARP) over the Fehling liquor interfered in the results of total and reducing sugars. On average the AARP was equivalent to 74.83 and 69.71% of the reducing power of glucose and of hydrolyzed sucrose, respectively. The ascorbic acid was stable in all study conditions.

Utilização de planejamento fatorial no preparo de amostras de detergente em pó para a determinação de fósforo por análise em fluxo

The decomposition of detergent powder samples in a microwave oven and autoclave was evaluated. To establish the best experimental conditions a 2(5) factorial design was performed, varying the conditions in autoclave and microwave digestion and flow system parameters for the determination of phosphorus. The best composition was: 0.2 mL sulfuric acid; 500 W power and a 2 min time interval; 6 mmol L-1 of ascorbic acid and 16 mmol L-1 of molybdate to flow system. This factor levels use less reagents than the reference method. No statistically significant differences were found between the autoclave and microwave oven responses at the 95% confidence level.

Sistema de análises em fluxo polivalente para a determinação espectrofotométrica de fármacos

A flow system based on the sandwich technique is proposed for the sequential determination of ascorbic acid, dipyrone, acetylcysteine, captopril and paracetamol. The procedure is based on the reduction of Cu(II) by the analytes followed by the spectrophotometric measurement of the complex of Cu(I) with 2,2'-biquinoline 4,4'-dicarboxylic acid. Linear responses were achieved in the µmol L-1 range, with coefficients of variation better than 1.7%. Sampling rate was estimated as 60 determinations per hour, consuming 230 µg of BQA and generating 2.5 mL of waste per determination. Results for commercial samples agreed with those obtained by procedures recommended by the American and European pharmacopeias at the 95% confidence level.

Quantificação dos isômeros ácido L-ascórbico e ácido D-iso-ascórbico em geleias de frutas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

Ascorbic acid has important nutritional characteristics such as high antioxidant potential, preventing diverse damage and diseases in the tissues and the process of aging. Different isomeric forms of the ascorbic acid can be found in nature and each one have different potential antioxidant and different activity pro-vitamin C. This work examined a method to detect and quantify the isomers L-ascorbic acid (LAA) and D-iso-ascorbic acid (DIAA) in jelly fruit. The method showed acceptable selectivity, linearity, repeatability and recovery. DIAA was not found in the analyzed samples, but LAA was found up to 605 mg in 100 g of sample.

Simultaneous and accurate determination of water- and fat-soluble vitamins in multivitamin tablets by using an RP-HPLC method

In the present study, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) procedure was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of seven water-soluble vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid, folic acid, and p-aminobenzoic acid) and four fat-soluble vitamins (retinol acetate, cholecalciferol, α-tocopherol, and phytonadione) in multivitamin tablets. The linearity of the method was excellent (R² > 0.999) over the concentration range of 10 - 500 ng mL-1. The statistical evaluation of the method was carried out by performing the intra- and inter-day precision. The accuracy of the method was tested by measuring the average recovery; values ranged between 87.4% and 98.5% and were acceptable quantitative results that corresponded with the label claims.

Uso de hardware de código fonte aberto "Arduino" para acionamento de dispositivo solenoide em sistemas de análises em fluxo

This paper describes the use of the open source hardware platform, denominated "Arduino", for controlling solenoid valves for solutions handling in flow analysis systems. System assessment was carried out by spectrophotometric determination of iron (II) in natural water. The sampling rate was estimated as 45 determinations per hour and the coefficient of variation was lower than 3%. Per determination, 208 µg of 1-10-phenanthroline and ascorbic acid were consumed, generating 1.3 mL of waste. "Arduino" proved a reliable microcontroller with low cost and simple interfacing, allowing USB communication for solenoid device switching in flow systems.