The krebs cycle is also known as citric acid cycle or TCA (Tri Carboxylic Acid) cycle because Citric acid is the first stable product in the reaction. Due to this being a cycle, citric acid then acts as a reactant for subsequent cycles. Thus citric acid is a significant compound for krebs cycle. Also, it consists of three carboxyl groups (-C=O-) thus naming it TCA or citric acid cycle.