Coupled oxidation of ascorbic acid and haemoglobin. I

Abstract

The coupled oxidation between bxyhemoglobin and ascorbic acid, leading to a bile pigment hemoglobin, is not caused by the H2O2 liberated in the autoxidation of the ascorbic acid. This autoxida-tion is prevented by copper-inhibitors without stopping the formation of choleglobin. Oxyhemoglobin and ascorbic acid react directly to form choleglobin. While CO prevents the formation of choleglobin by the action of atmospheric O2 on Hb in the presence of ascorbic acid, it does not prevent the formation of choleglobin by H2O2.