Abstract
Azelaic acid, a naturally-occurring, non-toxic straight-chained 9-carbon atom saturated dicarboxylic acid, has remarkable biological activities. Some of these were initially discovered by Drs. Marcella Nazzaro-Porro and Siro Passi of the S. Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, and applied clinically with benefit to some cutaneous hyperpigmentary disorders. Subsequent collaborative laboratory and clinical studies in Rome, Turin, and London, and later at other centres, have established that azelaic acid is an inhibitor of tyrosinase, mitochondrial enzymes of the respiratory chain, and of DNA synthesis, and that it has an anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effect on a variety of tumoural cells in culture, normal cells being practically unaffected. It is a scavenger of harmful free radicals, and inhibits generation of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils, and has broad spectrum bactericidal activity towards a range of microorganisms. Controlled clinical trials have established topical azelaic acid as an effective treatment for acne and chloasma, and it can also be of benefit to selected cases of melanomain situ. Its potential role as adjuvant therapy for primary invasive melanoma, and as palliative therapy for disseminated melanoma, and possibly other tumours, remains to be investigated. Its anti-free radical and anti-bacterial activities may be capable of exploitation against a range of infectious and inflammatory conditions.
Riassunto
L’acido azelaico, un composto bicarbossilico naturale non tossico con catena lineare a nove atomi di carbonio, ha notevoli attività biologiche. Alcune di queste sono state inizialmente scoperte da Marcella Nazzaro-Porro e Siro Passi dell’Istituto Dermatologico del San Gallicano di Roma e applicate clinicamente con effetti benefici per alcune malattie cutanee con iperpigmentazioni. Ulteriori studi clinici e di laboratorio a Roma, Torino, Londra e in altri centri hanno stabilito che l’acido azelaico è un inibitore della tirosinasi, di alcuni enzimi della catena respiratoria mitocondriale, e della sintesi del DNA, ed esercita una attività citotossica e antiproliferativa su varie cellule tumorali in coltura, mentre le cellule normali non sono modificate. L’acido azelaico è uno «scavenger» di radicali liberi dannosi, inibisce la formazione di specie reattive all’ossigeno da parte dei neutrofili, ed ha azione battericida su un vasto spettro di microorganismi. Esperimenti clinici controllati hanno stabilito che l’acido azelaico per uso topico è efficace nel trattamento dell’acne e del cloasma e ha effetti positivi anche in casi selezionati di melanoma. Il suo ruolo potenziale come coadiuvante nella terapia del melanoma invasivo primario, e come palliativo nella terapia del melanoma disseminato e forse di altri tumori, rimane da determinare. L’azione anti radicali liberi e anti batterico dell’acido azelaico può essere utilizzata contro una serie di condizioni infettive e infiammatorie.
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Nella seduta del 15 giugno 1995.
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Breathnach, A., Levi-Montalcini, R. The story of azelaic acid. A tribute to Marcella Nazzaro-Porro. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 6, 313–320 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03001692
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03001692