title: [alpha-Lipoic acid--a natural disulfide cofactor and antioxidant with anticarcinogenic effects].
abstract: The present survey summarizes the data about the structure, function and methods of investigation of the natural substance alpha-lipoic acid. This compound is an important growth factor of many microorganisms and at the same time a disulfide cofactor of dehydrogenases in oxidative phosphorylation. It is a physiological constituent of biological membranes, an efficient antioxidant and a scavenger of free radicals. Lipoic acid possesses anticarcinogenic and preventive effects which protect the calls from damage.
authors.affiliation: Ustav experimentálnej onkológie SAV, Bratisliava.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dovinová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D008063:Thioctic Acid