Ascorbic Acid Content of Recently Harvested Cereals and Legumes

Abstract

IN the course of an investigation, it had become necessary to start some guinea pig growth experiments for assay of ascorbic acid biologically. It was soon found that the animals kept on a scorbutic diet of casein, ground roasted Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum), ground oats, cod liver oil and salts did not cease to grow and show depletion even after three weeks. This unusual behaviour was ultimately traced to the ascorbic acid of the cereals and legumes in the diet. These grains were apparently harvested in March-April, and the experiment with the diet containing them started in May. The ascorbic acid contents of the cereals and pulses were estimated by titration with 2: 6-dichlorophenol indophenol and are given in Table 1.