Ubiquinone Q10, also known as Coenzyme Q10, is a fat-soluble antioxidant naturally present in human cells, where it plays an essential role in cellular energy production. Over time, its concentration in the skin diminishes, making Ubiquinone Q10 an effective anti-aging ingredient. Used in cosmetic products, Ubiquinone Q10 protects the skin from oxidative damage, promotes cellular regeneration, and helps improve skin elasticity and radiance.
Chemical Composition and Structure
It is a fat-soluble compound with an isoprenoid side-chain structure, granting it antioxidant properties and stability within the skin's lipid systems. It acts by neutralizing free radicals, protecting the skin from environmental damage and premature aging. Its isoprenoid structure makes it highly compatible with cellular membranes, facilitating penetration and absorption by the skin.
Physical Properties
Ubiquinone Q10 is a yellow-orange crystalline compound, oil-soluble. It is often incorporated into formulations such as serums, anti-aging creams, lotions, and facial masks. Its lightweight, lipid-soluble texture allows for deep and rapid absorption, delivering targeted antioxidant action directly to skin cells.
Production Process
It is produced through chemical synthesis or bacterial fermentation processes that ensure purity and stability. Following production, the compound is isolated, purified, and stabilized for use in cosmetic formulations, providing an effective concentration for skin treatment.
Applications
Medical: Beyond cosmetic use, Ubiquinone Q10 is widely studied for its energy-boosting and antioxidant properties, with applications that include supplements for heart health and cellular function improvement.
Cosmetics: Ubiquinone Q10 is used in skincare products for its anti-aging, regenerative, and protective properties. It helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improves skin elasticity, and protects against oxidative damage. It is particularly effective in serums and creams formulated for mature skin.
Industry: In the cosmetic industry, Ubiquinone Q10 is valued for its stability and potent antioxidant properties, finding use in advanced skin care and anti-aging formulations.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Ubiquinone Q10 is considered safe for cosmetic use. As a stable and biodegradable ingredient, it has minimal environmental impact. Bacterial fermentation production practices are sustainable, reducing reliance on chemical processes and ensuring a secure, renewable source of the compound.
Studies
Ubiquinones are lipid soluble molecules present in the lipid membranes of most eukaryotic cells and gram-negative bacteria (1).
Ubiquinone-10 (Q10), also called coenzyme Q, plays a pivotal role as electron-carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and is also well known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Recent findings suggest moreover that Q10 could have an important membrane stabilizing function (2).
Q10 is an essential component of eukaryotic cells and is involved in crucial biochemical reactions such as the production of ATP in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, the biosynthesis of pyrimidines, and the modulation of apoptosis(3).
Antioxidants and oxidative stress can participate in pathobiochemical mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Based on the results of this study, high doses of CoQ10 can improve gastrointestinal problems (P = 0.004) and sleep disorders (P = 0.005) in children with ASDs with an increase in the CoQ10 of the serum. We concluded that the serum concentration of CoQ10 and oxidative stress could be used as relevant biomarkers in helping the improvement of ASDs (4).
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading threats to global health. Previous research has proven that metabolic pathway disorders, such as high blood lipids and diabetes, are one of the risk factors that mostly cause CAD. In this study, the canonical correlation between CAD and metabolic pathways gene expressions was analyzed. The results showed that the TCA cycle, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosyntheses, N-glycan biosynthesis, other glycan degradation, glycosaminoglycan degradation, GPI anchor biosynthesis, and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis–ganglioseries are the most significant metabolic pathways correlated with CAD genes. Furthermore, these metabolic pathway genes are beneficial for the diagnosis and detection of CAD through the quantification of the expression level of patients\' serum (5).
Molecular formula: C59H90O4
Molecular Weight: 863.365
CAS: 303-98-0
Synonyms:
- Coenzyme Q
- Coenzyme Q10
- CoQ10
- Ubiquinone 50
- Ubidecarenone
References________________________________________________
(1) M.D. Collins, D. Jones
Distribution of isoprenoid quinone structural types in bacteria and their taxonomic implication
Microbiol. Rev., 45 (1981), p. 316
(2) Effect of ubiquinone-10 on the stability of biomimetic membranes of relevance for the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Eriksson EK, Agmo Hernández V, Edwards K.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2018 Feb 19;1860(5):1205-1215. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.02.015.
(3) Coenzyme Q biosynthesis in health and disease.
Acosta MJ, Vazquez Fonseca L, Desbats MA, Cerqua C, Zordan R, Trevisson E, Salviati L
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Aug; 1857(8):1079-1085.
(4) Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant enzyme activity in children with autism spectrum disorders.
Mousavinejad E, Ghaffari MA, Riahi F, Hajmohammadi M, Tiznobeyk Z, Mousavinejad M.
Psychiatry Res. 2018 Apr 4;265:62-69. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.061
Ubiquinone Q10 
