Evaluation of anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of coenzyme Q(10) in experimental animals

Abstract

Objectives This work aimed to assess some pharmacological activities of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) in animal experimental models. Methods The chick chorioallantoic membrane assay was used to evaluate anti-angiogenic activity of CoQ(10). Anti-inflammatory activity of CoQ(10) was confirmed using two animal models of inflammation. These were the vascular permeability and air pouch models, models of acute and sub-acute inflammation, respectively. Antinociceptive activity was assessed by the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction response. Key findings CoQ(10) dose-dependently displayed inhibition of chick chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis. In the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability model in mice, CoQ(10) at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg reduced vascular permeability from 0.74 +/- 0.01 (A(590)) to 0.67 +/- 0.01 (P < 0.01), 0.46 +/- 0.02 (P < 0.01) and 0.30 +/- 0.01 (P < 0.01), respectively. In the carrageenan-induced inflammation in the air pouch, CoQ(10) was able to diminish exudate volume, the number of polymorphonulcear leucocytes and nitrite content in the air pouches. CoQ(10) at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction in mice from 27.0 +/- 2.00 (number of abdominal constrictions) to 17.7 +/- 0.33 (P < 0.01), 9.3 +/- 0.67 (P < 0.01) and 1.3 +/- 0.33 (P < 0.01), respectively, suggesting a strong antinociceptive activity. Conclusions CoQ(10) possessed considerable anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity, possibly via down-regulating the level of nitric oxide, which partly supported its use as a dietary supplement and in combination therapy.