An update on the therapeutic role of alkylglycerols

Scandinavian folk medicine used shark liver oil for the treatment of cancers and other ailments based on the rarity of tumors in sharks and their ability to resist infections. Shark liver oil is a source of alkylglycerols which have been studied as anti-cancer agents in several clinical trials. More...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine Drugs 2010-08, Vol.8 (8), p.2267-2300
Main Authors: Iannitti, Tommaso, Palmieri, Beniamino
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alkoxyglycerols
alkylglycerols
Animals
Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry
Antineoplastic Agents - immunology
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
bathyl
Blood-Brain Barrier - drug effects
chimyl
Clinical Trials as Topic
ether lipids
Fish Oils - chemistry
Fish Oils - immunology
Fish Oils - therapeutic use
Glycerol - administration & dosage
Glycerol - analogs & derivatives
Glycerol - chemistry
Glycerol - therapeutic use
Glyceryl Ethers - administration & dosage
Glyceryl Ethers - chemistry
Glyceryl Ethers - therapeutic use
Humans
Immune System - drug effects
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Radiation Injuries - prevention & control
Review
selachyl
Sharks
Squalene - therapeutic use
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Summary:Scandinavian folk medicine used shark liver oil for the treatment of cancers and other ailments based on the rarity of tumors in sharks and their ability to resist infections. Shark liver oil is a source of alkylglycerols which have been studied as anti-cancer agents in several clinical trials. Moreover, alkylglycerols have been investigated for the treatment of radiation induced side effects and for their ability to boost the immune system. Several experimental studies have shown the ability of alkylglycerols to open the blood brain barrier to facilitate the access of therapeutic drugs to the central nervous system. This review covers the most important studies of alkylglycerols in both animals and humans.
ISSN:1660-3397
1660-3397
DOI:10.3390/md8082267