Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin. It occurs as a white or slightly yellow crystal or powder with a slight acidic taste. Ascorbic acid is an electron donor, and this property accounts for all its known functions. As an electron donor, ascorbic acid is a potent water-soluble antioxidant in humans. Ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant under physiologic conditions exhibiting a cross over role as a pro-oxidant in pathological conditions. Oxidized ascorbic acid (dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) directly inhibits IkappaBalpha kinase beta (IKKbeta) and IKKalpha enzymatic activity in vitro, whereas ascorbic acid did not have this effect. These findings define a function for vitamin C in signal transduction other than as an antioxidant and mechanistically illuminate how vitamin C down-modulates NF-kappaB signaling. Vitamin C is recommended for the prevention and treatment of scurvy. Its parenteral administration is desirable for patients with an acute deficiency or for those whose absorption of orally ingested ascorbic acid (vitamin c) is uncertain. Symptoms of mild deficiency may include faulty bone and tooth development, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and loosened teeth. Febrile states, chronic illness, and infection (pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, sinusitis, rheumatic fever, etc.) increase the need for ascorbic acid (vitamin c). Hemovascular disorders, burns, delayed fracture and wound healing are indications for an increase in the daily intake.

Hexylresorcinol is an organic compound with local anaesthetic, antiseptic and anthelmintic properties. It is available for use topically on small skin infections, or as an ingredient in throat lozenges. Hexylresorcinol may be used as a cosmetic biocide. Hexylresorcinol was introduced by Leonard as a urinary antiseptic with great possibilities. Used in alkaline solution it promised success in experiments in vitro. Boots Hexylresorcinol 2.4mg Throat Lozenges, marketed in UK, are used to relieve sore throat pain. Hexylresorcinol has being shown to be useful for the topical treatment of hyperpigmentation.

dl-α-tocopheryl phosphate has a growth acceleration effect on domestic fowl. Also was confirmed, that in all investigated animals dl-α-tocopheryl phosphate has an ability to being converted into vitamin E.

Erythorbic acid, an epimer of L-ascorbic acid, is used in the United States as a food additive. It was studied, that erythorbic acid enhanced of iron absorption and could play a major role in enhancing iron bioavailability from mixed diets that include foods preserved with erythorbic acid. In addition, was investigated if the erythorbic acid could influence on the metabolism of vitamin C in young women, and obtained results showed, that prolonged ingestion of erythorbic acid had no effect on vitamin C uptake or clearance from the body.

Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) or 2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,4-benzenediol is an antioxdant found to inhibit lipid oxidation. Extensive studies have demonstrated that tBHQ exhibit anti-carcinogenic effect. The ability of tBHQ to induce phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes through an Nrf2-dependent pathway is thought to be responsible for the observed protective effect of tBHQ. It has been proposed that tBHQ enhances Nrf2-mediated transcription by promoting reactive oxygen species-mediated dissociation of Nrf2-Keap1, Nrf2 stabilization, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activity, and MAPK pathway activation. tBHQ has been commonly used as a synthetic food additive to prevent oils and fats from oxidative deterioration and rancidity due to its potent anti-lipid peroxidation activity.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorles, highly toxic gas with a choking or suffocating odor. It is used as a pharmaceutical aid and antioxidant. It reacts easily with other substances to form harmful compounds, such as sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid and sulfate particles. About 99% of the sulfur dioxide in air comes from human sources. The main source of sulfur dioxide in the air is industrial activity that processes materials that contain sulfur, eg the generation of electricity from coal, oil or gas that contains sulfur. Some mineral ores also contain sulfur, and sulfur dioxide is released when they are processed. In addition, industrial activities that burn fossil fuels containing sulfur can be important sources of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide affects human health when it is breathed in. It irritates the nose, throat, and airways to cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a tight feeling around the chest. The effects of sulfur dioxide are felt very quickly and most people would feel the worst symptoms in 10 or 15 minutes after breathing it in. Sulfur dioxide is used to increase the storage life and preserve the color and flavor of fruits and vegetables and as a disinfectant in breweries, wineries and food factories. It prevents the formation of nitroamines in beer and reduces free chlorine after water treatment. It is used as a bleaching agent in the textile, paper pulp, wool and fresh produce industries and as a fumigant for grain and against lice and mites in veterinary practice. It also serves as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of chlorine dioxide, sodium sulfate, thionyl chloride and organic sulfonates. It is used as a reducing agent of iron in mineral processing, as a cleaning agent for metallic oxides, as an oxidizing agent in lithium batteries, as an oxygen scavenger and extractive solvent in petroleum refining, in glass manufacture and as a neutralizing agent. SO2 can be generated endogenously in mammals. In contrast to the toxic effects of SO2, protective effects have also been found in mammals. Endogenous SO2 has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertension, and anti-atherogenic effects and regulates vascular tone and cardiac function in mammals. SO2 may have a dual role in regulating physiological and pathophysiological effects in mammals. Studies have shown that SO2 can also regulate levels of lipid metabolism. In male Sprague–Dawley rats on a normal or a high cholesterol diet, inhalation of 5 ppm and 10 ppm SO2 gas (for 14 days) increased plasma triglyceride levels and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. However, in rats treated with a high cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, plasma total cholesterol increased and high-density lipoproteincholesterol decreased. After treatment with an SO2 donor the plasma levels of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly decreased. In addition, the SO2 donor significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesions. These data suggest that SO2 regulates lipid metabolism. The mechanism may be related to upregulation of the disturbed endogenous H2S pathway, increased plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, aortic tissue SOD1 and SOD2 protein expression, and decreased malondialdehyde generation. The antioxidant effect of SO2 might involve one of these mechanisms, which could directly prevent the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Sulfur dioxide and its derivatives have significant vasodilatory effects. SO2 decreased systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats which may be related to its vasorelaxing effect. Compared with exogenous SO2 vasoactive effects, it was discovered that endogenous SO2 had an important vasorelaxing function which is necessary for maintaining normal blood vascular tone.

Potassium bisulfite is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KHSO3. Potassium bisulphite is used for the preservation of colourless food materials such as fruit juices, squashes, apples and raw mango chutney. Potassium bisulfite solutions are used in a variety of different applications, including use as a food preservative (E228) to prevent spoilage and discoloration, as a preservative for pharmaceuticals (nebulizer solutions, parenterals, peritoneal dialysis solutions). It is also an antiseptic and sulfurous acid source, especially in brewing. Potassium bisulfite also functions as hair-waving/straightening agent. Potassium bisulfite is generally recognized as safe by FDA when used in accordance with good manufacturing or feeding practice, except that it is not used in meats or in food recognized as source of vitamin B1.