Squalene is a polyunsaturated triterpene composed of 2,6,10,10,15,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane and is mainly extracted from shark liver oil (about 35%) (1). It is also found in vegetables, oils, fishes.
EU Directive 2003/15/EC reduced the use of squalane from animal sources and many producers of this oil now obtain it from plant sources including olive oil and sugar cane.
In the human body it is synthesised by the liver and secreted by sebaceous glands into sebum and epidermis and is an intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis, known to have active oxygen scavenging activity.
It has antitumor (2), antioxidant (3), antibacterial (4) properties.
- Molecular Formula: C30H50
- Linear Formula [(CH3)2C[=CHCH2CH2C(CH3)]2=CHCH2-]2
- Molecular Weight: 410.7 g/mol
- CAS: 868-14-4
- EC Number: 203-826-1
- UNII: 7QWM220FJH
Synonyms:
- trans-Squalene
- Spinacen
- Spinacene
- Supraene
- (6E,10E,14E,18E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,10,14,18,22-hexaene
