Abstract:
The objective of the research was mainly to investigate quantitatively of the
vitamin C in terms of total vitamin C of four different kinds of vegetables; chinese
cabbage, collard, ivy gourd and bitter cucumber before and after they are boiled in hot
water. The determination of vitamin C was conducted using a spectrophotometer
employing the apparatus used by Roe and Kuether. Firstly, ascorbic acid was extracted
and oxidized into the form of dehydroascorbic acid. Then the dehydroascorbic acid was
oxidized into diketogulonic acid which later reacted with 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine,
producing a orange of osazone compounds. Detected by the spectrophotometer,
dissolved Bis-2,4-Dinitropheny/hydrazone in the solution of sulfuric acid yielded dark red.
in color which responded to the wavelength of 515 nm (absorption). It was found that
the amount of vitamin C of vegetables prior the boiling was highest in bitter cucumber
which was 151.83 + 3.41 mg/100 g (green weight). Collard, chinese cabbage and ivy
gourd contained vitamin C of 140.73 5.09, 132.27 + 2.76 and 40.10 2.94 mg/100g
(green weight) respectively. After boiling, vitamin C in the vegetables was decreased in
all samples. The examined amount of chinese cabbage, collard, ivy gourd and bitter
cucumber were 92.61 + 4.41, 108.25 5.60,135.46 +.99 and 12.56 + 3.30 mg/100g
(green weight), respectively. The smallest reduction was observed in bitter cucumber
which was 10.78%, while ivy gourd showed the maximum decrease in vitamin C
(68.69%) after boiling.