The effect of ascorbic acid on cell aging

Free oxygen radicals are highly reactive and unstable molecules which play role in aging and pathogenesis of various diseases. Free radicals and reactive ni trogen species especial ly ni tric oxide (NO) ef fect to al l important cel l compounds such as l ipids, DNA, proteins, enzymes and these species impair cel l structure and function. These changes that are occured by free radicals are very important factors for cel l aging. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a powerful antioxidant that reacts wi th especially superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and prevents the formation of free radicals in cel l . In this study, i t is aimed to research the metabol ism of AA on cel ls in various concentrations and the role of AA on preventing oxidative stres which causes cel l aging. In this direction, L-929 f ibroblast cel l cul tures were appl ied dif ferent concentrations of AA, a NO inhibi tor N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and H2O2 . NO levels were measured by spectrophotometer, AA and MDA levels were measured by HPLC in these cel l cul tures. As a resul t, AA decreased the amounts of NO in a doseindependent manner in all groups. We determined that when AA and L-NAME were appl ied together, these two compounds antagonised the ef fects of each other only in low doses. H2O2 increased MDA levels and decreased AA.