Squalene



Squalene
IUPAC name 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-
2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene
Identifiers
CAS number 111-02-4
SMILES CC(C)=CCCC(C)=CCCC(C)=CC
CC=C(C)CCC=C(C)CCC=C(C)C
InChI InChI=1/C30H50/c1-25(2)
15-11-19-29(7)23-13-
21-27(5)17-9-10-18-
28(6)22-14-24-30(8)
20-12-16-26(3)4/h15-
18,23-24H,9-14,19-
22H2,1-8H3/b27-17+,
28-18+,29-23+,30-24+
Properties
Molecular formula C30H50
Molar mass 410.71 g/mol
Density 0.855 g/cm3
Melting point

-100 °C

Boiling point

285 °C at 25 mmHg

Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Squalene is a natural triterpene.

Role in steroid synthesis

Squalene is the biochemical precursor to the whole family of cholesterol and other steroids.

 

Shark squalene

Squalene is a low density compound often stored in the bodies of cartilaginous fishes such as sharks, which lack a swim bladder and must therefore reduce their body density with fats and oils. Squalene, which is stored mainly in the shark's liver, is lighter than water with a specific gravity of 0.855. Environmental and other concerns over shark hunting have motivated its extraction from vegetable sources instead.

Recently it has become a trend for sharks to be hunted to process their livers for the purpose of making squalene health capsules. However, there is little clinical evidence to prove that, taken internally, squalene does anything to increase an individual's quality of life.

Use as a moisturizer

Squalene is used in cosmetics as a natural moisturizer. It penetrates the skin quickly, does not leave a greasy feeling on the skin and blends well with other oils and vitamins.

Biosynthesis

  • Two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate condense with reduction by NADPH to form squalene - by squalene synthase;


References

  1. ^ K. Bloch:"Sterol structure and membrane function",CRC Crit. Rev.,14:47-92.
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Squalene". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.