title: Ascorbic acid: a review of its chemistry and reactivity in relation to a wine environment.
abstract: Extensive reviews of research are available on the use of ascorbic acid, and its consequent degradation pathways, in physiological conditions or food matrices. However, very little information can be found for wine-related systems. This review highlights the relevant chemistry and reactivity of ascorbic acid with a focus on its behavior and potential behavior in a wine environment. The review describes the use of ascorbic acid as a complementary antioxidant preservative to sulfur dioxide along with the metal-catalyzed and radical-dependent manner by which it achieves this role. The relevant degradation products of ascorbic acid in aerobic and anaerobic conditions are presented as well as the interaction of these degradation products with sulfur dioxide and other wine-relevant sulfur compounds. Limitations in existing knowledge, especially regarding the crossover between the antioxidant and pro-oxidant roles of ascorbic acid, are identified.
authors.affiliation: Pillitteri Estates Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada.
authors.forename: Marc P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barril
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Prenzler
authors.forename: Geoffrey R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Scollary
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002384:Catalysis; D005524:Food Technology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D001205:Ascorbic Acid