Ascorbic Acid: Therapeutic Implications In Neurodegenerative Diseases

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is a non-enzymatic antioxidant that dissolves in water. According to research, depending on its dose, vitamin C may have immunomodulatory and antibacterial effects. Ascorbic acid regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in a critical manner. Therefore, research into ascorbic acid's potential role in the neuro-endocrine interaction is necessary to control neurodegenerative illnesses and behavioral abnormalities. Ascorbate, a reduced form of vitamin C, can scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen oxides (NO) produced during synaptic activity and neuronal metabolism in brain tissue. According to a number of studies, ascorbic acid effectively regulates redox balance by increasing the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, GRx, and GPx. Additionally, it performs crucial roles in protein aggregation, which is unquestionably vital in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative illnesses including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disorders. It's interesting to note that a mouse model showed that lower brain ascorbate could cause oxidative stress at a young age, hastening the onset of pathological alterations such Aβ deposition and the ensuing cognitive deficiencies. In order to maintain synaptic activity, ascorbic acid can change the metabolism of the brain. Thus, based on the fragmented evidence, it may be inferred that redox balance caused by ascorbic acid may serve as a possible target for modulating neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and cognitive deficits.