Biological and pharmacological activities of squalene and related compounds: potential uses in cosmetic dermatology

• Published in: Molecules Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 540 - 554
• Main Authors: Huang, Zih-Rou, Lin, Yin-Ku, Fang, Jia-You
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23.01.2009; Molecular Diversity Preservation International
• Subjects: Animals; antioxidant; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; beta Carotene - chemistry; beta Carotene - pharmacology; Cosmetics - chemistry; Cosmetics - pharmacology; Dermatology - methods; Emollients - chemistry; Emulsions - chemistry; Humans; Lipids - chemistry; Molecular Structure; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Review; skin; Skin - drug effects; skin surface lipid; Squalene; Squalene - chemistry; Squalene - pharmacology; topical delivery; Ubiquinone - analogs & derivatives; Ubiquinone - chemistry; Ubiquinone - pharmacology; Vitamin A - chemistry; Vitamin A - pharmacology; Vitamin E - chemistry; Vitamin E - pharmacology; Vitamin K 1 - chemistry; Vitamin K 1 - pharmacology; Vitamins - chemistry; Vitamins - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules14010540

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 beta-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.