Another medline abstract on lipoic acid. This one discusses neuroprotection
specifically.
Ron Reiner (50/2)
-------------------------------------------------
Title
Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid.
Author
Packer L; Tritschler HJ; Wessel K
Address
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California,
Berkeley 94720-3200, USA.
Source
Free Radic Biol Med, 22(1-2):359-78 1997
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species are thought to be involved in a number of
types of acute and chronic pathologic conditions in the brain and
neural tissue. The metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoate (thioctic acid,
1, 2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid; 1, 2-dithiolane-3 valeric acid; and
6, 8-dithiooctanoic acid) is a low molecular weight substance that is
absorbed from the diet and crosses the blood-brain barrier.
alpha-Lipoate is taken up and reduced in cells and tissues to
dihydrolipoate, which is also exported to the extracellular medium;
hence, protection is afforded to both intracellular and extracellular
environments. Both alpha-lipoate and especially dihydrolipoate have
been shown to be potent antioxidants, to regenerate through redox
cycling other antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E, and to raise
intracellular glutathione levels. Thus, it would seem an ideal
substance in the treatment of oxidative brain and neural disorders
involving free radical processes. Examination of current research
reveals protective effects of these compounds in cerebral
ischemia-reperfusion, excitotoxic amino acid brain injury,
mitochondrial dysfunction, diabetes and diabetic neuropathy, inborn
errors of metabolism, and other causes of acute or chronic damage to
brain or neural tissue. Very few neuropharmacological intervention
strategies are currently available for the treatment of stroke and
numerous other brain disorders involving free radical injury. We
propose that the various metabolic antioxidant properties of
alpha-lipoate relate to its possible therapeutic roles in a variety of
brain and neuronal tissue pathologies: thiols are central to
antioxidant defense in brain and other tissues. The most important
thiol antioxidant, glutathione, cannot be directly administered,
whereas alpha-lipoic acid can. In vitro, animal, and preliminary human
studies indicate that alpha-lipoate may be effective in numerous
neurodegenerative disorders.
Language
Eng
Unique Identifier
97117078
MESH Headings
Animal; Antioxidants (*PD/TU); Brain (BS/*DE); Human; Nerve
Degeneration (DE); Nervous System (*DE);
Neuroprotective Agents (*PD/TU); Oxidative Stress (DE); Reperfusion
Injury (PC); Thioctic Acid (*PD/TU)
Publication Type
JOURNAL ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW, ACADEMIC
ISSN
0891-5849
Country of Publication
UNITED STATES
At 12:29 AM 12/4/97 EST, you wrote:
>Ron,
> If it's possiable would you mind sending more detailed info on "lipoic acid"
>...or directing me to a website that has real information about this substance
><can ya tell I don't wanna (unless I have to) scroll thru "try me, buy me"
>ads> ... Thanks ... Elf in TN...Romona
>
