Medical use of squalene as a natural antioxidant

Abstract

Doğal bir antioksidan olarak skualenin medikal kullanımıBu derlemenin amacı, koruyucu ve tedavi edici tıp içerisinde skualenin yerini ve önemini vurgulamaktır. Skualen bir triterpen olup, hemoglobinden bağımsız olarak oksijeni hücreye doğrudan taşıyarak tüm vücuda ulaştırabilmektedir. Skualenin kanser oluşumunu önlediği ve yüksek anti-tümör aktivitesine sahip olduğu bildirilmiştir, bu nedenle, çeşitli kanserlerin tedavi sürecinde destekleyici olarak kullanılabilmektedir. Skualenin bu konu ile ilgili epidemiyolojik ve deneysel hayvan araştırmaları ilginç ve umut vericidir. Bununla birlikte, skualenin kimyasal özellikleri nedeniyle farklı hastalıkların tedavisinde kullanılması açısından, insanlarda daha geniş çalışmalarla desteklenmesi gerekmektedir. Anahtar sözcükler: Skualen, triterpen, sitotoksik aktivite, antitümor aktivite, deri hastalıkları, kolesterol metabolizması ABS TRACT Medical use of squalene as a natural antioxidantThe aim of the present review is to emphasize the importance of squalene, a nutrient, in preventive and therapeutic medicine. Squalene is a triterpene that carries oxygen independent of the hemoglobin and it can carry oxygen directly to cell membranes throughout the body and reach the regions having low oxygen supply. Squalene has been reported to have an inhibitory effect on cancer promotion and a high anti-tumor activity; thus, it is primarily used as a supportive therapy in a variety of cancers. Epidemiological and experimental animal researches regarding squalene's anti-cancer properties are interesting and promising. However, these properties of squalene should be supported by further extensive trials in humans.

Terpenoids and Their Biosynthesis in Cyanobacteria

“…Squalene in turn serves as the precursor for formation of triterpenoids including the bacterial hopanoids and eukaryotic sterols. Squalene itself is a natural antioxidant and has commercial use in cosmetics, nutrition and in vaccines [ 115 , 116 , 117 ], and is extracted for commercial use from shark liver oil, or olive or other plant oils.…”

Proposed mechanisms of Terminalia catappa in hyperglycaemia and associated diabetic complications

“…Retina, being highly lipoidal, is extremely prone to the effects of reactive oxygen species and undergoes rapid lipid peroxidation in pathological conditions leading to damage of several retinal cells. Antioxidant effects of squalene may prevent the apoptosis of rod outer segment (ROS) disc membranes and rod photoreceptor cells of retina as it is widely transported to the site affected by free radicals …”

“…Antioxidant effects of squalene may prevent the apoptosis of rod outer segment (ROS) disc membranes and rod photoreceptor cells of retina as it is widely transported to the site affected by free radicals. [34] Apart from triterpenoids, several tannins have been extracted from the leaves of T. catappa, among which punicalagin and punicalin are the most copious. Both punicalagin and punicalin, also obtained abundantly from pomegranate juice, are validated potent antioxidant agents.…”

Inhibition of virulence of Staphylococcus aureus – a food borne pathogen – by squalene, a functional lipid

“…It should be noted that all these substances (except indole derivatives) are synthetic drugs, and, pose risk of dose limitation, toxicity issues and side effects. As against this, our work clearly indicates that squalene, a natural substance and a major marine functional lipid, could be the answer, as it is likely to have minimal problems related to either dosage toxicity or side effects (Gunes, 2013). …”