It has been
suggested ascorbic acid exerts protection by: (1) acting as an oxygen
scavenger, removing molecular oxygen and avoiding polyphenol
oxidase-catalyzed reactions (Rico, Martin-Diana, Barat, & Barry-Ryan, 2007) and (2) self-oxidation to avoid oxidation of
phenol compounds or reduction of enzymatically formed o-quinones
to their precursor diphenols (Mayer & Harel, 1979).