A novel stable precursor of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), 2-
O-(
-
D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid, wasisolated from both the ripe fresh fruit and dried fruit of
Lycium barbarum L
., a plant of the Solanaceaefamily. The chemical structure was inferred by instrumental analyses and confirmed by chemicalsynthesis. The dried fruit of
Lycium barbarum L
. contained ca. 0.5% of it, which is comparable to theascorbic acid content of fresh lemons. It increased the blood ascorbic acid by oral administration torats, and it was also detected in blood from the portal vein.Keywords: Vitamin C; ascorbic acid;
Lycium fruit