Neuroprotective Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on Neurological Diseases: a Review Article

Overview

Journal Front Neurosci

Date 2023 Jul 10

PMID 37424991

Authors

Shokufeh Bagheri

Rasool Haddadi

Sahar Saki

Masoumeh Kourosh-Arami

Masome Rashno

Ali Mojaver

Alireza Komaki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neurological disorders affect the nervous system. Biochemical, structural, or electrical abnormalities in the spinal cord, brain, or other nerves lead to different symptoms, including muscle weakness, paralysis, poor coordination, seizures, loss of sensation, and pain. There are many recognized neurological diseases, like epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia 2 (ARCA2), Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), and spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 9 (SCAR9). Different agents, such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), exert neuroprotective effects against neuronal damage. Online databases, such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed/MEDLINE were systematically searched until December 2020 using keywords, including review, neurological disorders, and CoQ10. CoQ10 is endogenously produced in the body and also can be found in supplements or foods. CoQ10 has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and plays a role in energy production and mitochondria stabilization, which are mechanisms, by which CoQ10 exerts its neuroprotective effects. Thus, in this review, we discussed the association between CoQ10 and neurological diseases, including AD, depression, MS, epilepsy, PD, LHON, ARCA2, SCAR9, and stroke. In addition, new therapeutic targets were introduced for the next drug discoveries.

Citing Articles

Q-Der: a next-generation CoQ10 analogue supercharging neuroprotection by combating oxidative stress and enhancing mitochondrial function.

Micucci M, Gianfanti F, Donati Zeppa S, Annibalini G, Canonico B, Fanelli F Front Mol Biosci. 2025; 12:1525103.

PMID: 40070687 PMC: 11893404. DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2025.1525103.

The Impact of Coenzyme Q10 on Cognitive Dysfunction, Antioxidant Defense, Cholinergic Activity, and Hippocampal Neuronal Damage in Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Obesity.

Erfanmanesh Z, Edalatmanesh M, Mokhtari M Iran J Pharm Res. 2025; 23(1):e157068.

PMID: 40066120 PMC: 11892755. DOI: 10.5812/ijpr-157068.

Nanotechnology in Parkinson's Disease: overcoming drug delivery challenges and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

Ali I, Adil M, Imran M, Qureshi S, Qureshi S, Hasan N Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2025; .

PMID: 39878857 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-025-01799-8.

Optic Nerve Neuroprotection in Glaucoma: A Narrative Review.

DAngelo A, Vitiello L, Lixi F, Abbinante G, Coppola A, Gagliardi V J Clin Med. 2024; 13(8).

PMID: 38673487 PMC: 11050811. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13082214.

The Optic Nerve at Stake: Update on Environmental Factors Modulating Expression of Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy.

Layrolle P, Orssaud C, Leleu M, Payoux P, Chavanas S Biomedicines. 2024; 12(3).

PMID: 38540197 PMC: 10968140. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12030584.

References

Chuang Y, Chen S, Liou C, Lin T, Chang W, Chan S . Contribution of nitric oxide, superoxide anion, and peroxynitrite to activation of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling in hippocampal CA3 subfield following experimental temporal lobe status epilepticus. Epilepsia. 2009; 50(4):731-46. DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01778.x. View

Wang Y, Hekimi S . Understanding Ubiquinone. Trends Cell Biol. 2016; 26(5):367-378. DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2015.12.007. View

Bartels S, Forester B, Miles K, Joyce T . Mental health service use by elderly patients with bipolar disorder and unipolar major depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2000; 8(2):160-6. View

Huang L, Chao S, Hu C . Clinical trials of new drugs for Alzheimer disease. J Biomed Sci. 2020; 27(1):18. PMC: 6943903. DOI: 10.1186/s12929-019-0609-7. View

Bigal M, Liberman J, Lipton R . Age-dependent prevalence and clinical features of migraine. Neurology. 2006; 67(2):246-51. DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000225186.76323.69. View

Judd L, Akiskal H, Schettler P, Endicott J, Maser J, Solomon D . The long-term natural history of the weekly symptomatic status of bipolar I disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002; 59(6):530-7. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.6.530. View

Guaras A, Perales-Clemente E, Calvo E, Acin-Perez R, Loureiro-Lopez M, Pujol C . The CoQH2/CoQ Ratio Serves as a Sensor of Respiratory Chain Efficiency. Cell Rep. 2016; 15(1):197-209. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.03.009. View

Engelsen J, Nielsen J, Hansen K . [Effect of Coenzyme Q10 and Ginkgo biloba on warfarin dosage in patients on long-term warfarin treatment. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial]. Ugeskr Laeger. 2003; 165(18):1868-71. View

Khalilian B, Madadi S, Fattahi N, Abouhamzeh B . Coenzyme Q10 enhances remyelination and regulate inflammation effects of cuprizone in corpus callosum of chronic model of multiple sclerosis. J Mol Histol. 2020; 52(1):125-134. DOI: 10.1007/s10735-020-09929-x. View

10.

Abuelezz S, Hendawy N, Magdy Y . The potential benefit of combined versus monotherapy of coenzyme Q10 and fluoxetine on depressive-like behaviors and intermediates coupled to Gsk-3β in rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2018; 340:39-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2017.12.018. View

11.

Somayajulu-Nitu M, Sandhu J, Cohen J, Sikorska M, Sridhar T, Matei A . Paraquat induces oxidative stress, neuronal loss in substantia nigra region and parkinsonism in adult rats: neuroprotection and amelioration of symptoms by water-soluble formulation of coenzyme Q10. BMC Neurosci. 2009; 10:88. PMC: 2724477. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-88. View

12.

Chen S, Liu C, Yen H . Detection of suppressed maturation of the human COQ5 protein in the mitochondria following mitochondrial uncoupling by an antibody recognizing both precursor and mature forms of COQ5. Mitochondrion. 2013; 13(2):143-52. DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2013.01.007. View

13.

Schmelzer C, Lorenz G, Rimbach G, Doring F . In Vitro Effects of the Reduced Form of Coenzyme Q(10) on Secretion Levels of TNF-alpha and Chemokines in Response to LPS in the Human Monocytic Cell Line THP-1. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2009; 44(1):62-6. PMC: 2613501. DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.08-182. View

14.

Rashid M, Babu D, Siraki A . Interactions of the antioxidant enzymes NAD(P)H: Quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and NRH: Quinone oxidoreductase 2 (NQO2) with pharmacological agents, endogenous biochemicals and environmental contaminants. Chem Biol Interact. 2021; 345:109574. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109574. View

15.

Di Monte D . The environment and Parkinson's disease: is the nigrostriatal system preferentially targeted by neurotoxins?. Lancet Neurol. 2003; 2(9):531-8. DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(03)00501-5. View

16.

Cui S, Luo K, Quan Y, Lim S, Shin Y, Lee K . Water-soluble coenzyme Q10 provides better protection than lipid-soluble coenzyme Q10 in a rat model of chronic tacrolimus nephropathy. Korean J Intern Med. 2021; 36(4):949-961. PMC: 8273834. DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2020.211. View

17.

Yang X, Yang Y, Li G, Wang J, Yang E . Coenzyme Q10 attenuates beta-amyloid pathology in the aged transgenic mice with Alzheimer presenilin 1 mutation. J Mol Neurosci. 2008; 34(2):165-71. DOI: 10.1007/s12031-007-9033-7. View

18.

Kones R . Mitochondrial therapy for Parkinson's disease: neuroprotective pharmaconutrition may be disease-modifying. Clin Pharmacol. 2012; 2:185-98. PMC: 3262379. DOI: 10.2147/CPAA.S12082. View

19.

Fernandes K, Brum D, Palei A, Sandrim V, Guerreiro C, Tanus-Santos J . Functional MMP-9 polymorphisms modulate plasma MMP-9 levels in multiple sclerosis patients. J Neuroimmunol. 2012; 249(1-2):56-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2012.04.001. View

20.

Spindler M, Beal M, Henchcliffe C . Coenzyme Q10 effects in neurodegenerative disease. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2009; 5:597-610. PMC: 2785862. DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s5212. View