Possible Interaction: Hydroquinone and Vitamin C

“ Ascorbic acid , a reducing and free radical-scavenging agent, significantly lowered the effects of hydroquinone , catechol, trihydroxybenzene as well as N-nitrosodimethylamine (a known CYP2E1-dependent promutagen), with that of benzoquinone unaffected.”

“Lower concentrations of sodium ascorbate, ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate reduced both the radical intensity and cytotoxic activity of HQ , more efficiently than ascorbic acid 2,6-dipalmitate, in contrast to the cytotoxic action of these ascorbates at higher (millimolar) concentrations.”

“Administration of ascorbic acid resulted in a reduction of PHPLA excretion while it had no effect on PHPAA excretion.”

“In contrast, additions to hepatocytes of 5 mM of dithiothreitol, cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine or ascorbic acid significantly inhibited the cytotoxicity induced by 0.5 mM PHQ ; GSH, protein thiols and ATP losses were also prevented.”

“A possible activation mechanism of the peroxidation of ascorbic acid in the presence of hydroquinone was suggested, and its biological significance was considered.”

“Ascorbic acid and hydroquinone were shown to be oxidized successively, and hydroquinone promoted the oxidation of ascorbic acid.”

“ Ascorbic acid sometimes increased the degradation rate, while higher concentrations of hydroquinone also accelerated the degradation.”