Dihydrolipoic Acid, 50 mg

From STEMCELL Technologies, this small molecule is the reduced form of alpha-lipoic acid and is a carboxylic acid containing two thiol groups, commonly known as Dihydrolipoic Acid (DHLA). It acts as a general antioxidant that is highly reactive against a variety of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydroxyl radicals, peroxynitrite, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorite, at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 mM. Dihydrolipoic Acid has also been shown to recycle ubiquinone to the antioxidant active divalently reduced form.

Conversely, at concentrations higher than 50 to 100 µM, Dihydrolipoic Acid directly increases ROS content, along with a significant increase in cytoplasmic free calcium and nitric oxide (NO) levels, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases 9 and 3, and cell death. In published applications, it has been shown to induce apoptosis and suppress proliferation in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCCB5) at 50 to 100 μM and to reduce cytochrome b561, thereby decreasing ascorbate recycling and iron absorption.

The compound has the chemical name 6,8-disulfanyloctanoic acid, a molecular formula of C₈H₁₆O₂S₂, and a molecular weight of 208.3 g/mol. It is supplied as a neat oil with a purity of ≥ 95%. The product is stable at -20°C as supplied and should be protected from prolonged exposure to light; it remains stable as supplied for 12 months from the date of receipt. This product is hazardous; users should refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). It is for research use only and is not intended for human or animal diagnostic or therapeutic uses unless otherwise stated.