Biological and Pharmacological Activities of Squalene and Related Compounds: Potential Uses in Cosmetic Dermatology

Abstract

Squalene is a triterpene that is an intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. It was so named because of its occurrence in shark liver oil, which contains large quantities and is considered its richest source. However, it is widely distributed in nature, with reasonable amounts found in olive oil, palm oil, wheat-germ oil, amaranth oil, and rice bran oil. Squalene, the main component of skin surface polyunsaturated lipids, shows some advantages for the skin as an emollient and antioxidant, and for hydration and its antitumor activities. It is also used as a material in topically applied vehicles such as lipid emulsions and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Substances related to squalene, including β-carotene, coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) and vitamins A, E, and K, are also included in this review article to introduce their benefits to skin physiology. We summarize investigations performed in previous reports from both in vitro and in vivo models.

Phytochemical Constituents of the Leaves of Leucaena Leucocephala From Malaysia

“…The GC-MS analysis has identified 30 compounds from all the solvent extracts from the L. leucocephala leaves and some of them have been reported to possess many biological properties such as antimicrobial, anticancer, cancer preventive, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant; antitumor, antihistaminic, nematicide, pesticide, antiandrogenic, hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective as summarized in table 2. [18] Among the identified phytochemicals, squalene is a triterpene that is an intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway [19], and it is used in cosmetics as a natural moisturizer [14,17]. Squalene is reported to be an antioxidant activity [17,20,21], anticancer activity [17,22] and chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis [17,23,24].…”

Gemcitabine versus Modified Gemcitabine: A Review of Several Promising Chemical Modifications

“…It was so called due to its first historical isolation from shark liver oil, where it is contained in large quantities, and is considered its richest source. 65 In humans, about 60 percent of dietary squalene is absorbed and is distributed ubiquitously in human tissues in small amount. 66 Recent in vitro and in vivo model experiments suggest a tumour-inhibiting role for squalene.…”

Squarticles as the nanoantidotes to sequester the overdosed antidepressant for detoxification

“…Besides the strong affinity to lipophilic compounds, squalene can act as a vital antioxidant to exert cytoprotective effect. 36 Previous studies 14,37 have demonstrated that squalene is efficacious in stabilizing the mammalian cell membrane in cyclophosphamide-and isoproterenol-elicited cardiotoxicity. Even though the cationic squarticles extracted amitriptyline from the highly perfused organs and largely located it in the liver for elimination, this nanosystem did not accomplish the end point of MAP recovery and lethality reduction; this can be associated with the faster release of amitriptyline from the cationic squarticles than from the anionic ones after entrapment.…”