α-Lipoic Acid

Description

DL-α-Lipoic acid is a cyclic disulfide antioxidant that interconverts with its reduced dithiol form. It is an essential cofactor for decarboxylation reactions of the citric acid cycle, and acts as a general antioxidant. DL-α-lipoic acid can act as a direct radical scavenger, as a cofactor to regenerate reduced glutathione, and as a metal chelator.

Chemical properties

Light-Yellow Solid

Originator

Neurium,Hexal

The Uses of α-Lipoic Acid

(±)-α-Lipoic acid has been used in in vitro lipoylation studies and in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)-pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK) functional assay. It has also been used to investigate its antioxidative effect on developing cerebellum of rats exposed to arsenic during postnatal period.

The Uses of α-Lipoic Acid

A fat-metabolism stimulator

The Uses of α-Lipoic Acid

thioctic acid is also known as alpha lipoic acid. It is an anti-oxidant.

The Uses of α-Lipoic Acid

Lipoic acid [CAS: 1077-28-7] (6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid), a lipophilic endogenous disulfide that can be reduced to the dithiol dihydrolipoic acid, protects against free-radical-mediated injury both in vivo and in vitro.

What are the applications of Application

α-Lipoic Acid is a metabolic antioxidant that regulates NF-κB signal transduction

Definition

ChEBI: Lipoic acid is a heterocyclic thia fatty acid comprising pentanoic acid with a 1,2-dithiolan-3-yl group at the 5-position. It has a role as a fundamental metabolite and a geroprotector. It is a member of dithiolanes, a heterocyclic fatty acid and a thia fatty acid. It is functionally related to an octanoic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a lipoate.

Manufacturing Process

To a suspension of 106 g of anhydrous aluminum chloride in 450 ml of carbontetrachloride is added dropwise, with vigorous stirring, 70 g of ethyl 8- chloroformylvalerate (H. Bergs, C. Wittfeld and H. Frank, Ber., 67B, 1622 (1947)). The temperature is maintained at 25°C. The cooling bath is removed and ethylene is passed in for a period of 2 hours. The reaction mixture is poured onto cracked ice, the organic layer separated, and the aqueous layer extracted with 200 ml of chloroform. The combined organic extracts are dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The dark colored oil remaining, crude ethyl 8-chloro-6-oxooctanoate is distilled in vacuo through a 6 in. Vigreaux column. After small forerun, the main fraction, 48-54 g (72-80%), B.P. 112-114°C (2 mm.); n25 D1-4485, is collected.
Redistilled thiolacetic acid (14.7 g) is cooled in an ice-bath and neutralized to the phenolphthalein end-point with a 10% solution of potassium hydroxide in ethanol (approximately 135 ml required). To this solution is added 29 g of ethyl-6,8-dibromooctanoate and the mixture is stirred and heated under reflux in an atmosphere of nitrogen for 5 hours. The reaction mixture, which contains ethyl 6,8-diacetyl-mercaptooctanoate, is cooled and 35 g of potassium hydroxide (85%) is added. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature in an atmosphere of nitrogen for 17 hours, then acidified (pH less than 1) with 6 N hydrochloric acid. Ethanol is removed in vacuo, sufficient water is added to dissolve the inorganic solids and the mixture is extracted with two 150 ml portions of chloroform. To the combined organic extracts, which contain 6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid , is added 575 ml of chloroform and 210 ml of water. This mixture is stirred vigorously in an atmosphere of nitrogen While sufficient iodoform reagent (R. L. Shriner and R. C. Fuson, "Identification of Organic Compounds," 2nd. Ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y., 1940, p. 53) is added dropwise during a 6 hour period to give a permanent brown color. Approximately 185 ml of iodoform reagent is required. The organic layer is separated, washed with 500 ml of 1% sodium thiosulfate solution, and then extracted with two 250 ml portions of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. The aqueous extracts are acidified (pH less than 1) with 6 N hydrochloric acid and extarcted with two 125 ml portions of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts are dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent is then removed in vacuo. The yellow viscous oil remaining solidifies when cooled and scratched. This solid material is extracted with three 300 ml portions of boiling Skelly B solvent (essentially nhexane). The combined extracts are seeded with crystalline DL-α-lipoic acid and allowed to stand at room temperature overnight and then in a refrigerator for several hours. Large yellow crystals separate, M.P. 60.5-61.5°C. The yield of product is 10.8-12.3 g (60-68%). 1,2-Dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid was recrystallized from Skelly B solvent, M.P. 61-62°C.

brand name

Liposan;Thioactacid.

Therapeutic Function

Growth factor, Lipotropic, Detoxicant

Synthesis Reference(s)

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 79, p. 6483, 1957 DOI: 10.1021/ja01581a033

General Description

Oxidized form. Has antioxidant properties. Growth factor for many bacteria and protozoa.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Pharmaceutical Applications

Lipoic acid(ALA), also known as α-lipoic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) or thioctic acid, has the formula C₈H₁₄S₂O₂ and systematic name 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid. It contains a disulfide group, which can be transformed in the body to a dithiol group.
ALA has been on the market since the 1950s as a dietary supplement. It is a natural antioxidant usually made by the body. The advantage of ALA over other antioxidants such as vitamin C and E is that it is soluble both in water and in fat. Researchers in the former Soviet Union found that ALA can chelate mercury once it is transformed into the dithiol-containing compound. ALA can penetrate both the blood–brain barrier and the cell membrane and therefore would be a very interesting chelating agent. Nevertheless, there is much debate about its mode of action, side effects and effectiveness. Other antidotes, such as BAL and DMSA, are more efficient in the removal of heavy metals. ALA has not received FDA approval as a chelating agent, but it is still sold as a food supplement.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Antioxidant and coenzyme needed for the activity of enzyme complexes such as those of pyruvate dehydrogenase and glycine decarboxylase. Exogenous thioctic acid is reduced intracellularly by two or more enzymes. The reduced form then influences a number of cell processes by direct radical scavenging, recycling of other antioxidants, increasing glutathione synthesis, and modulating transcription factor activity particularly that of NF-κB. Decreases the phagocytosis of myelin by macrophages.

Biological Functions

Two forms of α-Lipoic Acid (ALA) are oxidized lipoic Acid (LA) and reduced dihydrolipoic Acid (DHLA). Both are capable of scavenging a variety of ROS. DHLA is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals. Furthermore, ALA simultaneously regenerates other antioxidant factors, such as vitamins C and E, increasing glutathione synthesis. ALA is generally involved in keto Acid oxidative decarboxylation processes and is a growth factor for some organisms. In the pathogenesis of inflammation, factor NF-kB modulates inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (ILs) such as IL-1β and IL-6. ALA inhibits I Kappa B kinase, suppressing the activation of inflammatory cytokines.

Side Effects

Side effects are rare and may include insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea, and skin rash. α-Lipoic Acid can lower blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes or low blood sugar should take alpha-lipoic Acid only under the supervision of their healthcare provider.

storage

Store at +4°C

Purification Methods

It forms yellow needles from cyclohexane or hexane and has been distilled at high vacuum; and sublimes at ~90o and very high vacuum. It is insoluble in H2O but dissolves in alkaline solution. [Lewis & Raphael J Chem Soc 4263 1962, Soper et al. J Am Chem Soc 76 4109, Reed & Niu J Am Chem Soc 77 416 1955, Tsuji et al. J Org Chem 43 3606 1978, Calvin Fed Proc USA 13 703 1954.] The S-benzylisothiuronium salt has m 153-154o (evacuated capillary, from MeOH), 132-134o, 135-137o (from EtOH). The dand lforms have m 45-47.5o and [] D 23 ±113o (c 1.88, *C6H6) and have UV in MeOH with max at 330nm ( 140). [Beilstein 19/7 V 237.] The reduced form, (±)-6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, [7516-48-5] M 208.3, is a light yellow liquid which is sold in sealed ampoules.