Recent Progress in Microalgal Squalene Production and Its Cosmetic Application

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 295 - 305
• Main Authors: Yarkent, Çağla, Oncel, Suphi S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering 01.06.2022; Springer Nature B.V; 한국생물공학회
• Subjects: Acne; Aging; Algae; Animals; Antioxidants; Aquatic microorganisms; Bioactive compounds; Bioengineering; Biological activity; bioprocessing; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coronaviruses; Cosmeceuticals; Cosmetics; COVID-19 vaccines; Electronic commerce; excretion; extinction; Gene expression; Human body; humans; Immune system; Industrial and Production Engineering; Inflammation; Microalgae; oxidation; Oxidative stress; Pharmaceuticals; Review Paper; sebum; Sharks; Skin care products; Species extinction; Squalene; terpenoids; 생물공학; microalgal process; microalgae; squalene; bioactive compound; cosmetics
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-021-0355-z

Squalene, [oxidized form squalane] is a terpenoid with biological activity that produced by animals and plants. In the human body, a significant excretion named as sebum includes squalene in 12 percent. This bioactive compound shows anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, moisturizing and antioxidant effects on the human body. In addition to having these properties, it is known that squalene production decreases as less sebum is produced with age. Because of that, the need for supplementation of squalene through products has arisen. As a result, squalene production has been drawn attention due to its many application possibilities by cosmetic, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical fields. At this point, approximately 3,000 of sharks, the major and the most popular source of squalene must be killed to obtain 1 ton of squalene. These animals are on the verge of extinction. This situation has caused to focus on finding microalgae strains, which are sustainable producers of squalene as alternative to sharks. This review paper summarizes the recent progresses in the topic of squalene. For this purpose, it contains information on squalene producers, microalgal squalene production and cosmetic evaluation of squalene.