History
Scurvy is a disease which results from insufficient intake of vitamin C and leads to spots on the skin,spongy gums and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. A person diagnosed with scurvy will often look pale,feel depressed and partially immobilized.This was quite an awful disease that spreaded throughout all of Europe. In 1742, Scottish physician James Lind, had previous knowledge about the preventive and healing powers of citrus fruits and lemon juice during his years as a naval surgeon, wrote a written study advising their required consumption by British sailors.He was the first person to create a connection between the diet and scurvy. By 1795, Lind’s research slowly resulted to the cure of scurvy within the entire British fleet. James Lind or anybody else did not know the compound, ascorbic acid even existed yet. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
Throughout history, researchers had trouble determining the unique substance. This is when Albert Szent-Györgyi, in the 1920s, started making experimental connections that others did not. The discovery of vitamin C won him a nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
He began his investigation by studying the chemical changes that occur when cells utilize foodstuffs, such as carbohydrates, fats, and protein, a process sometimes known as biological combustion. In the course of his studies Szent-Györgyi isolated a molecule from adrenal glands that lost and regained hydrogen atoms. This “hydrogen carrier,” containing six carbon atoms, had the properties of a sugar and an acid. Szent-Györgyi named it “hexuronic acid.”(Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
In the 1920s, he became interested in cell respiration and energy production in plants, closely investigating the “browning” processes that interrupted or impeded growth and normal functioning. Szent-Györgyi discovered that as plants brown, they do so as a result of damage at the cellular level: a breakdown in the mechanism that supplies enough hydrogen to prevent excessive oxidation. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
While conducting a series of experiments on citrus plants, he found that browning could be induced with peroxidase, a plant enzyme active in oxidation. Szent-Györgyi was then able to delay the browning with the addition of citrus juice to the peroxidase. Further experiments allowed Szent-Györgyi to isolate the protective hexuronic-acid agent he believed was active in citrus juice. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
In 1930, he showed his sample of hexuronic acid to J. L. Svirbely, an American-born chemist, who had previously worked with Charles King, a vitamin researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. While working with Szent-Györgyi,they decided to conduct an experiment on guinea pigs,because they are similar to humans, We most must consume vitamin C to maintain health since it cannot be produced within our bodies. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
Svirbely divided the animals into two groups: one that received boiled food (boiling destroys vitamin C) and the other that was fed food with hexuronic acid. The second group did very well and lived, while the first group of guinea pigs got scurvy-like symptoms and died. Svirbely and Szent-Györgyi decided hexuronic acid was indeed the long sought vitamin C. Later on, they renamed it ascorbic acid. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
Throughout history, researchers had trouble determining the unique substance. This is when Albert Szent-Györgyi, in the 1920s, started making experimental connections that others did not. The discovery of vitamin C won him a nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
He began his investigation by studying the chemical changes that occur when cells utilize foodstuffs, such as carbohydrates, fats, and protein, a process sometimes known as biological combustion. In the course of his studies Szent-Györgyi isolated a molecule from adrenal glands that lost and regained hydrogen atoms. This “hydrogen carrier,” containing six carbon atoms, had the properties of a sugar and an acid. Szent-Györgyi named it “hexuronic acid.”(Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
In the 1920s, he became interested in cell respiration and energy production in plants, closely investigating the “browning” processes that interrupted or impeded growth and normal functioning. Szent-Györgyi discovered that as plants brown, they do so as a result of damage at the cellular level: a breakdown in the mechanism that supplies enough hydrogen to prevent excessive oxidation. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
While conducting a series of experiments on citrus plants, he found that browning could be induced with peroxidase, a plant enzyme active in oxidation. Szent-Györgyi was then able to delay the browning with the addition of citrus juice to the peroxidase. Further experiments allowed Szent-Györgyi to isolate the protective hexuronic-acid agent he believed was active in citrus juice. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
In 1930, he showed his sample of hexuronic acid to J. L. Svirbely, an American-born chemist, who had previously worked with Charles King, a vitamin researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. While working with Szent-Györgyi,they decided to conduct an experiment on guinea pigs,because they are similar to humans, We most must consume vitamin C to maintain health since it cannot be produced within our bodies. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)
Svirbely divided the animals into two groups: one that received boiled food (boiling destroys vitamin C) and the other that was fed food with hexuronic acid. The second group did very well and lived, while the first group of guinea pigs got scurvy-like symptoms and died. Svirbely and Szent-Györgyi decided hexuronic acid was indeed the long sought vitamin C. Later on, they renamed it ascorbic acid. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Vitamin C - Landmark - American Chemical Society.)