Is Coenzyme Q10 Effective in Protection against Ulcerative Colitis? An Experimental Study in Rats

Biol Pharm Bull. 2016;39(7):1159-66. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b16-00124.

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) is a vitamin-like supplement which appears to be safe, with minimal side effects and low drug interaction potential. Co-Q10 is used in the treatment of a variety of disorders related primarily to suboptimal cellular energy metabolism and oxidative injury. Studies supporting the efficacy of Co-Q10 appear most promising for a variety of diseases, including ulcerative colitis (UC). The present investigation aims to elucidate the possible protective effects of Co-Q10 against UC, as induced by the administration of iodoacetamide to adult male albino rats. In our study, Co-Q10 showed potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities through a significant increase in catalase activity and glutathione content. In addition, it significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde content and nitrate/nitrite production. These results suggest that Co-Q10 protects against UC in rats via anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials, and therefore seems promising for use in further clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / chemically induced
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / metabolism
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology
  • Colon / drug effects
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Colon / pathology
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Iodoacetamide
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Nitrogen Oxides / metabolism
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Ubiquinone / pharmacology
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Ubiquinone
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Catalase
  • Peroxidase
  • Glutathione
  • Ubiquinone Q1
  • Iodoacetamide