**2. Mechanism of action**

The mechanism of action of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant is focused on the donation of a hydrogen atom to lipid radicals, removal of molecular oxygen, and quenching of singlet oxygen [13]. Regeneration of α-tocopherol from the tecopheroxyl radical species and aqueous radical scavenging is also the antioxidant

**Figure 1.**

*Proposed mechanism of action of ascorbic acid in mammalian cells.*

mechanism of ascorbic acid [14]. According to [15], ascorbic acid has the ability to bind and reduce transition metal ions especially Fe3+ and Cu2+, and this characteristic contributes to its capacity to promote iron uptake from the diet. The proposed mechanism of action of vitamin C in mammalian cells is shown in **Figure 1**.
