**1. Introduction**

Many biological processes in humans and animals such as digestion of food, breathing, drug, and alcohol metabolism, and even the conversion of fats to energy produce free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are harmful to the body [1]. If the system cannot cope well, free radicals can lead to a negative chain reaction in the body known as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the reflection of an imbalance between the body system's antioxidants and reactive oxygen species due to a decrease in antioxidants or ROS buildup. Increased ROS production in the body may alter DNA structure, protein, and lipid alteration, the awakening of several stress-induced transcription factors as well as the creation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. [2–4]. Oxidative stress is shown to be associated with the development of certain disease conditions such as neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, stroke, heart failure,

Parkinson's disease, and cancer [5–7]. One solution to this problem is to supplement the diet with antioxidant compounds [8].

Antioxidants are molecules that are capable of reducing or inhibiting the consumption or decomposition of other molecules. Free radicals are produced from oxidative processes, which can trigger several chemical reactions resulting in damage of cells. Antioxidants limit these chemical reactions by clearing or eliminating free radical intermediates and hindering other oxidative reactions by being oxidized themselves [4]. As such, antioxidants are frequently known as deoxidizing agents such as thiols or polyphenols [9]. The body's antioxidant defense system operates/ works by inhibiting the initial production of ROS, scavenge of oxidizing agent, changing oxidizing agent to less-harmful compounds, obstructing the secondary production of harmful metabolites or mediators of inflammation, stopping the circulation of secondary oxidants, restoring the molecular damage generated by ROS, or boosting the endogenous antioxidant defense system of the body.

Ascorbic acid or vitamin C is a water-soluble essential vitamin with antioxidant properties found in both animals and plants but cannot be synthesized by humans and must be obtained from the diet [10]. Ascorbic acid as an antioxidant plays essential function in the prevention of oxidative stress in various tissues in the body [11]. Ascorbic acid can protect several molecules in the body such as carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species and free radicals that are generated during cellular metabolism as a result of exposure to toxins and pollutants (drugs, cigarettes) or by immune cells [12].
