Dual effects include antioxidant and pro-oxidation of ascorbic acid on the redox properties of bovine hemoglobin

The oxidation reactions have become the main obstacle of development of bovine hemoglobin-derivates products. Herein, the effects of vitamin C (Vc), a easily available natural antioxidant reagent, on the redox reaction of bovine hemoglobin were systematically investigated through methemoglobin (MetHb) formation and spectrophotometric analysis and oxygen affinity monitoring of hemoglobin. The results showed that Vc presented antioxidant effects in the initial stage of reaction and then could accelerated the MetHb content increasing by production of hydrogen peroxide, which can be indirectly characterized by the formation of choleglobin in the following side reactions. The dual effects of Vc include antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects could be confirmed by the spectrophotometric spectrums analysis in this research. The results of this research supplied the novel insight into understanding of redox properties of bovine hemoglobin and also revealed the main obstacle in exploration of Vc application in the future development of bovine hemoglobin-derivates products.