Ascorbic acid modifies the free radical scavenging behaviour of catechin: An insight into the mechanism

► Behaviour change from Catechin:Ascorbic 1:2 to Catechin:Ascorbic 1:3 molar ratio. ► Reduction of Ascorbic acid conc. in mixture with catechin drops antioxidant activity. ► At absence of Ascorbic, catechin antioxidant behavior is due to procyanidin formation. ► In current experiments Ascorbic suppresses procyanidin formation; ie C-C formation. ► LC-MS assisted proof for redox cycling of o-quinones.