α-Lipoic acid, functional fatty acid, as a novel therapeutic alternative for central nervous system diseases: A review.

α-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural antioxidant which acts as a cofactor of bioenergetic mitochondrial enzymes. Along with its mitochondrial action, ALA and its reduced form have many biological functions resulting in a wide variety of actions such as anti-inflammation and antioxidant protection, scavenging reactive oxygen species, regenerating other antioxidant agents, such as vitamins C and E, and cytosolic glutathione, chelating the transitional metal ions (e.g. iron and copper), and modulating the signal transduction of nuclear factor. By selecting papers from PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, and databases, this review discusses the biochemical properties of LA, its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and its possible therapeutic role in central nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injury. ALA as an antioxidant and anti-inflammation agent has therapeutical effects on central nervous system diseases, especially multiple sclerosis and PD. ALA can be considered as a potentially useful treatment in central nervous disorders.