Albert Szent-Györgyi

Albert Szent-Györgyi (September 16, 1893 - 1986) was a Hungarian physiologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937.

He was born in Budapest. His father, Nicolaus Szent-Györgyi, was a landowner. His mother, Josefine, was a daughter of Joseph Lenhossék and a sister of Michael Lenhossék; both of these men were Professors of Anatomy at the University of Budapest.

Szent-Györgyi's work involved the chemistry of cell respiration. He used paprika at the University of Szeged as a source of vitamin C (the L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid) and noted its anti-scorbutic activity.

In 1937, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "For his discoveries in connection with the biological combustion process with special reference to vitamin C & the catalysis of fumaric acid".

External link

• Biography of Albert Szent-Györgyi - from Nobel Lectures, Physiology or Medicine 1922-1941