IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO PROLONGED BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF NOVEL VITAMIN-C DERIVATIVE, 2-O-ALPHA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSYL-L-ASCORBIC ACID (AA-2G), IN COSMETIC FIELDS

The biological activity of the novel vitamin C derivative, 2-O-alpha-D -glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G), was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The percutaneous absorption of AA-2G was determined in five Jap anese males. The excretion of ascorbic acid (AA) in the subjects admin istered AA-2G was sustained for a longer period than in the subjects a dministered ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA-2P), which is a conventional vitamin C derivative. An analysis of the distribution of AA in the sk in showed that small black specks assumed to be AA were observed in th e epidermis even 3d after applying AA-2G. The melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells was inhibited more by AA-2G than by AA-2P, and AA-2G a lso prevented more UV-induced damage of human skin keratinocytes and f ibroblasts than AA-2P did. From these in vivo and in vitro results, it is supposed that the conversion of AA-2G to AA is sustained for a lon g time compared with that of AA-2P, and that AA-2G is an effective and available compound having vitamin C activity in human subjects.