Positive Health Online

Abstract

MUROYAMA, Laboratory of Alternative Medicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3  Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan. a-muroyama@hokuriku-u.ac.jp review the role and mechanism of CoQ10 in the neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease.

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the core symptoms such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity and postural instability.

Methodology

Currently, pharmacotherapy and surgical approaches for the treatments of PD can only improve the neurological symptoms. Therefore, to search neuroprotective therapies using pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches could be important to delay the progression of pathogenesis in PD. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a component of the electron transport chain as well as an important antioxidant in mitochondrial and lipid membranes.

Results

The central role of CoQ10 in two areas implicated in the pathogenesis of PD, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damages, suggest that it may be useful for treatment to slow the progression of PD. The neuroprotective effect of CoQ10 has been reported in several in vivo and in vitro models of neurodegenerative disorders. Although CoQ10 attenuated the toxin-induced reduction of dopamine content and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the striatum of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model, it is still unknown how this nutrition affects the mitochondrial function. We demonstrated that oral administration of CoQ10 significantly attenuated the loss of dopaminergic nerve terminals induced by MPTP treatment.

Conclusion

Furthermore, our experimental data indicate that an inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c release is one of the primary targets for CoQ10 and may lead to a potent neuroprotection.

References

Muroyama A. An alternative medical approach for the neuroprotective therapy to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. Yakugaku Zasshi 133(8):849-56. 2013.

Comment

The results of the above research indicate that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may play a positive neuroprotective role in halting the neurodegenerative progression of Parkinson’s disease.