Ascorbigen

Ascorbigen is a natural compound that is formed from ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and indole-3-carbinol (a breakdown product of glucosinolates). It occurs mainly in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and other vegetables of the Brassicaceae family. In recent years, this compound has attracted scientific interest due to its potentially health-promoting properties, particularly with regard to its purported antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and immunomodulating effects.

What health benefits could Ascorbigen provide?

  • Antioxidant effect: As a precursor of vitamin C, Ascorbigen possesses antioxidant properties. It protects cells from oxidative stress, which contributes to the prevention of cell damage and inflammation. This potential property is particularly interesting for protection against degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases or neurodegenerative diseases (1).
  • Cancer prevention: Studies have shown that cruciferous vegetables that are rich in Ascorbigen could have a cancer-preventive effect. The indole-3-carbinol it contains, which is released during the breakdown of Ascorbigen, could promote the detoxification of carcinogens and thus potentially lower the risk of hormone-dependent cancers such as breast or prostate cancer (2,3,4,5).
  • Immune system support: Ascorbigen and its breakdown products could contribute to strengthening the immune system. The antioxidant properties help protect immune cells from damage, while the vitamin C component supports the production and function of white blood cells. Indole-3-carbinol, in turn, could influence anti-inflammatory processes and thus potentially contribute to general immunomodulation (1,6,7).
  • Detoxification: Indole-3-carbinol promotes the activation of enzymes that are responsible for detoxification in the liver. This could support the body in eliminating harmful substances more effectively (8,9).

Chemical structure and formation

Ascorbigen is formed by the reaction of ascorbic acid with indole derivatives that occur in plants, especially in cruciferous vegetables. When these vegetables are processed or eaten, Ascorbigen breaks down into its active components, including ascorbic acid and indole-3-carbinol, both of which have bioactive effects.

Occurrence in foods

Ascorbigen can be found in a variety of cruciferous vegetables, with the content varying depending on the plant. The richest sources include:

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (white cabbage, kale, red cabbage)
  • Cauliflower
  • Kohlrabi

Fresh and gently prepared cabbage and broccoli contain the highest amounts of Ascorbigen. However, overcooking or other heat-based cooking methods can reduce the Ascorbigen content.

Possible applications and research

Currently, there is no widespread commercial application of Ascorbigen as a dietary supplement, but it could play a role in the future due to its potential health benefits. It is increasingly being investigated whether isolated Ascorbigen can be used in cancer prevention and as an antioxidant.

Risks and side effects

Ascorbigen, which occurs in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, is considered largely safe when it is consumed through natural foods. However, there is only limited information about possible side effects, especially with highly concentrated intake of isolated Ascorbigen in the form of dietary supplements. Some of the possible side effects include:

  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • Cross-reactions with allergies
  • Interactions with thyroid function
  • Interactions with medications

Sources:

  1. Tai, A., Fukunaga, K., Ohno, A., & Ito, H. (2014). Antioxidative properties of ascorbigen in using multiple antioxidant assays. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 78(10), 1723–1730. https://doi.org/10.1080/09168451.2014.932668
  2. Seow, A., Yuan, J. M., Sun, C. L., Lee, H. P., & Yu, M. C. (2002). Dietary Isothiocyanates, Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms and Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Carcinogenesis, 23(12), 2055-2060.
  3. George, B. P., Chandran, R., & Abrahamse, H. (2021). Role of Phytochemicals in Cancer Chemoprevention: Insights. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 10(9), 1455. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10091455
  4. Preobrazhenskaya, M. N., Bukhman, V. M., Korolev, A. M., & Efimov, S. A. (1993). Ascorbigen and other indole-derived compounds from Brassica vegetables and their analogs as anticarcinogenic and immunomodulating agents. Pharmacology & therapeutics, 60(2), 301–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/0163-7258(93)90012-3
  5. Katz, E., Nisani, S., & Chamovitz, D. A. (2018). Indole-3-carbinol: a plant hormone combatting cancer. F1000Research, 7, F1000 Faculty Rev-689. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.14127.1
  6. van Gorkom, G. N. Y., Klein Wolterink, R. G. J., Van Elssen, C. H. M. J., Wieten, L., Germeraad, W. T. V., & Bos, G. M. J. (2018). Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 7(3), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7030041
  7. Prado, N. J., Ramirez, D., Mazzei, L., Parra, M., Casarotto, M., Calvo, J. P., Cuello Carrión, D., Ponce Zumino, A. Z., Diez, E. R., Camargo, A., & Manucha, W. (2022). Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antiarrhythmic effect of indole-3-carbinol, a phytochemical derived from cruciferous vegetables. Heliyon, 8(2), e08989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08989
  8. Choi, Y., Abdelmegeed, M. A., & Song, B. J. (2018). Preventive effects of indole-3-carbinol against alcohol-induced liver injury in mice via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms: Role of gut-liver-adipose tissue axis. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 55, 12–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.11.011
  9. Wang, S. Q., Cheng, L. S., Liu, Y., Wang, J. Y., & Jiang, W. (2016). Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) and its Major Derivatives: Their Pharmacokinetics and Important Roles in Hepatic Protection. Current drug metabolism, 17(4), 401–409. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389200217666151210125105