Nippon Shokubai participates in COI-NEXT led by the University of Tokyo to jointly develop an integrated agro-industrial GX technologies to contribute to increase food production and green chemical manufacturing

Abstract

Coenzyme-Q10 (Co-Q10) is an indigenous lipophilic provitamin synthesized from precursors, mevalonate, and phenylalanine, by all human cells. The level of Co-Q10 gradually decreases in human cells with aging so it can be obtained from exogenous sources like fishes, vegetables, and dairy products. Co-Q10 is available in the form of oral tablets, capsules, and toothpaste. The recommended oral dose is 30 to 60 mg/day to prevent deficiency. Co-Q10 is found in two chemical states, ubiquinones the oxidized form and ubiquinol the reduced form. It was first isolated in 1957 from beef mitochondria, while in 1958 it was revealed that its chemical structure was 2, 3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl benzoquinone. Co-Q10 serves as an essential carrier for the electron transfer in the mitochondrial respiratory chain for the synthesis of ATP. Co-Q10 has countless beneficial activities on human body, but antioxidant effect is one of the most important among all. The antioxidant activity of Co-Q10 is attributed to its benzoquinone ring. Co-Q10 can both accept and donate electrons which prove it to be a good antioxidant. The antioxidant properties of Co-Q10 minimizes the chances of neurodegenerative diseases like Friedrich’s ataxia, cardiovascular diseases, migraine, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and autoimmune diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Co-Q10 is used as hepatoprotective and immune system enhancer. Co-Q10 prevents the oxidation of DNA, proteins, lipids and lipoproteins and protect sand enhances the antioxidant activity of vitamins (vitamin C and E) and enzymes like glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Co-Q10 is the only antioxidant which is endogenously synthesized and is lipid-soluble. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of Co-Q10 have been proved by researchers both by animal and successful human studies. These studies suggest that the presence of Co-Q10 is very important for normal functioning of human body, and thus we must eat diet rich in Co-Q10 in order to protect our body from oxidative stress and diseases caused by free radicals.