L-ascorbic acid- and L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside accelerate in vivo liver regeneration and lower serum alanine aminotransaminase activity in 70% partially hepatectomized rats.

The effects of L-ascorbic acid and its stable analogue L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside on the restoration of liver mass and recovery of liver function after 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), were compared with other natural vitamin C analogues in rats in vivo. L-Ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneally (i.p.))- and L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (50 mg/kg/d, i.p.)-treated rats showed an approximately 1.3-fold increase in the ratio of liver weight (LW) to body weight (BW), when compared to saline (as control)-, L-dehydroascorbic acid (150 mg/kg/d, i.p.)- and D-isoascorbic acid (150 mg/kg/d, i.p.)-administrated rats on day 3 after PH. Accordingly, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-labeling index in the regenerating liver was significantly higher in L-ascorbic acid- and L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside-treated rats compared with saline-, L-dehydroascorbic acid and D-isoascorbic acid-treated rats on day 1. In control rats, liver-related serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was rapidly elevated on day 1, and then decreased to near pre-operative levels on day 5 following PH. L-Ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside significantly lowered the serum ALT on day 1 after PH compared with saline-, L-dehydroascorbic acid- and D-isoascorbic acid-administered rats. These results demonstrate that L-ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside significantly promote the regeneration of liver mass and function with full recovery after liver injury.