α-Lipoic acid (ALA), also known as thioctic acid, is a potent antioxidant with the molecular formula C₈H₁₄O₂S₂ and a molecular weight of 206.33 g/mol. It plays a crucial role in mitochondrial metabolism as a cofactor for enzymes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. ALA …