search by
Copyright @ Pol J Cosmetol
Pol J Cosmetol 2007, 10(2): 91-99pl,en  Natural and synthetic sources of lipoic acidBarbara Bednarczyk-Cwynar, Lucjusz Zaprutko Katedra i Zakład Chemii Organicznej, Wydział Farmaceutyczny Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu Summary The skin, an organ of mainly protecive, secretive and resorptive functions, undergoes action of numerous factors, external and internal, that make worse its appearance and functionality. The researches proved that one of the most important reason of unfavourable changes which occur in the skin is the activity of free radicals and another oxidants. They cause that wrinkles start to form. New substances, that possess the ability to deactivate the disadvantageous species and to improve the appearance and functionality of skin have been sought for many years. To the group of compounds with this kind of activity, lipoic acid can be included. This substance is present in some foodstuffs; in living organisms it is formed from cysteine and eight-carbon fatty acid. It can be obtained synthetically as well. In one of the earliest synthesis method of this compound, published in 1954, derivatives of adipic acid are involved. The increasing requirement for lipoic acid contributes to searching for new pathways of its synthesis, with usage of simple and available starting materials such as 3-alkylthiopropionic acid and its thioderivatives as well as cyclohexanone. Key words: lipoic acid, antioxidants, lipoic-acid sources |