Coenzyme Q10, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer

The processes of aging and photoaging are associated with an increase in cellular oxidation. This may be in part due to a decline in the levels of the endogenous cellular antioxidant coenzyme Q(10), (ubiquinone, CoQ(10)). Therefore, we have investigated whether topical application of CoQ(10) has the beneficial effect of preventing photoaging. We were able to demonstrate that CoQ(10) penetrated into the viable layers of the epidermis and reduce the level of oxidation measured by weak photon emission. Furthermore, a reduction in wrinkle depth following CoQ(10) application was also shown. CoQ(10) was determined to be effective against UVA mediated oxidative stress in human keratinocytes in terms of thiol depletion, activation of specific phosphotyrosine kinases and prevention of oxidative DNA damage. CoQ(10) was also able to significantly suppress the expression of collagenase in human dermal fibroblasts following UVA irradiation. These results indicate that CoQ(10) has the efficacy to prevent many of the detrimental effects of photoaging.