Coenzyme Q10 and its effective sources

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (2,3-dimethoxy, 5-methyl, 6-decaprenyl benzoquinone, CoQ10) is naturally present in many organisms. It has key roles in several biochemical pathways. CoQ10, as an electron and proton carrier for energy coupling leads to Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) formation. Furthermore, in medicine, the pharmacological use of CoQ10 has attracted more attention due to its benefits in treating cardiovascular and degenerative neurologic diseases. CoQ10 can be produced by chemical synthesis, extraction from biological tissues and microbial fermentation. It is found in plants such as soya bean, peanut, palm oil and litchi pericarp and in animals such as pelagic fish, beef and pork hearts. Various analytical methods have been published for the extraction and analysis of CoQ10 from different matrices. Biological production of CoQ10 offers an environmentally benign option based on the enzymatic catalysis at the cellular level. Moreover, this process due to ease of control and low production costs offers more advantages over the existing technologies.