| Abstract: | Abstract A specific enzymic-differential spectrophatometric method is described and evaluated for the determination of ascorbic acid in vegetables and medicinal plants. It is based on the absorbance measurement at 593 nm of the complex of ferrous ion with 2,4,6-tris (pyridyl)-S-triazine, which is produced by reduction of ferric ion by ascorbic acid, versus a blank sample treated with ascorbate oxidase. The absorbance difference is linearly related to ascorbic acid from 10 to 100 ug/ml. A standard deviation of ±0.5 ug/ml (n=5) and a mean recovery of 101.47. (98.3–103.3%.) from spiked plant extracts, were found. The method was used to determine ascorbic acid in various plants of the Greek flora. Acacia cvanophvlla was found to be the richest source tested for ascorbic acid (89.6 mq/100 q of leaves). The method is very simple and can be used in routine analysis. |
