The protective effect of ascorbic acid derivative on PC12 cells: involvement of its ROS scavenging ability.

L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate-6-palmitate (Asc2P6P) was synthesized and its effect on the damage of PC12 cells induced by H2O2 was investigated. 200 microM H2O2 in a treatment period of 4 hours in our experiment resulted in substantial cell loss. With the increasing concentration of antioxidants, such H2O2-induced cytotoxicity was significantly prevented and the corresponding intracellular and extracellular ROS levels decreased concurrently by pre-treatment with Asc2P6P and Asc. It was found that Asc2P6P was superior to L-ascorbic acid in its protective role and showed a dose-dependent manner during a 24-hour treatment. The higher potency of Asc2P6P's protective role on PC12 cells was correlated with its more effective ROS scavenging ability. HPLC assay demonstrated that Asc2P6P could easily enter the cells and be converted into Asc persistently, which contributed to its distinguished role in protecting PC12 cells against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity.