Asparagusic acid and lipoic acid are similar in that both possess a 1,2-dithiolane ring with a carboxylic acid tethered to it; indeed, it has been reported that asparagusic acid can substitute for lipoic acid in α-keto-acid oxidation systems such as the citric acid cycle.
Asparagusic acid and lipoic acid exhibit structural similarity through their shared 1,2-dithiolane ring framework connected to a carboxylic acid group. This likeness has been illustrated by the capacity of asparagusic acid to replace lipoic acid in specific biochemical processes.