Squalamine
Squalamine is a steroid derived from the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias). It was first isolated and identified in 1993 by Dr. Michael Zasloff and his team. Squalamine is a natural product that exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiangiogenic properties.
Chemistry[edit | edit source]
Squalamine is a polyamine-steroid conjugate, consisting of a 7,24-dihydroxylated 24-sulfated cholic acid, linked to a spermidine at the C-3 position. The molecule is amphipathic, meaning it has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, which allows it to interact with cell membranes.
Biological Activity[edit | edit source]
Squalamine has been found to exhibit a broad range of biological activities. It has potent antimicrobial activity against a variety of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. It also exhibits potent antiangiogenic activity, which has led to its investigation as a potential treatment for cancer and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Antimicrobial Activity[edit | edit source]
Squalamine interacts with the cell membrane of microorganisms, disrupting their normal function and leading to cell death. It has been found to be effective against a wide range of organisms, including Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.
Antiangiogenic Activity[edit | edit source]
Squalamine inhibits the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. This property has led to its investigation as a potential treatment for diseases characterized by excessive angiogenesis, such as cancer and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Clinical Use[edit | edit source]
Squalamine has been investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While results have been promising, further research is needed to fully understand its potential therapeutic applications.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This marine biology related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD