Compound Monograph
Squalene
Squalene is a natural triterpene hydrocarbon and biosynthetic precursor of sterols, found in plant oils, human sebum and shark liver oil.
Classification
Squalene is a triterpene hydrocarbon, part of the terpenoids class. The largest class of plant compounds, built from five-carbon isoprene units — the essential-oil aromatics, resins, bitter principles, saponins, and plant sterols.
Where Does It Come From? (6)
Squalene is a naturally occurring (and made in the body) triterpene hydrocarbon, found in Red spinach, Olive, Amaranth and 3 other sources. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).
Research & Evidence
Squalene is a polyunsaturated triterpene that serves as a key intermediate in the body’s synthesis of cholesterol and other sterols, and it is also a normal component of human skin sebum. It is obtained commercially from plant oils such as olive and amaranth as well as from shark liver, and it is used in cosmetics (often as the more stable hydrogenated form, squalane) and as a vaccine adjuvant. Antioxidant and skin-conditioning properties have been described.
Toxicity & Safety
Squalene is a naturally occurring, endogenous compound generally regarded as low in toxicity and is widely used in foods and cosmetics. It is well tolerated topically and orally at the levels normally encountered.