Multiple beneficial health effects of natural alkylglycerols from shark liver oil

Mar Drugs. 2010 Jul 19;8(7):2175-84. doi: 10.3390/md8072175.

Abstract

Alkylglycerols (alkyl-Gro) are ether lipids abundant in the liver of some elasmobranch fish species such as ratfishes and some sharks. Shark liver oil from Centrophorus squamosus (SLO), or alkyl-Gro mix from this source, have several in vivo biological activities including stimulation of hematopoiesis and immunological defences, sperm quality improvement, or anti-tumor and anti-metastasis activities. Several mechanisms are suggested for these multiple activities, resulting from incorporation of alkyl-Gro into membrane phospholipids, and lipid signaling interactions. Natural alkyl-Gro mix from SLO contains several alkyl-Gro, varying by chain length and unsaturation. Six prominent constituents of natural alkyl-Gro mix, namely 12:0, 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 16:1 n-7, and 18:1 n-9 alkyl-Gro, were synthesized and tested for anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activities on a model of grafted tumor in mice (3LL cells). 16:1 and 18:1 alkyl-Gro showed strong activity in reducing lung metastasis number, while saturated alkyl- Gro had weaker (16:0) or no (12:0, 14:0, 18:0) effect. Multiple compounds and mechanisms are probably involved in the multiple activities of natural alkyl-Gro.

Keywords: alkylglycerols; anti-tumor activities; ether lipids; immunostimulation; shark liver oil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Fish Oils / chemistry
  • Fish Oils / pharmacology*
  • Glycerol / chemistry
  • Glycerol / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Sharks

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fish Oils
  • Glycerol