New Developments in Coenzyme Q10 Research Contributed by A Single Group. Editorial

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), first identified by Moor et al in 1940, is a fat soluble quinone with characteristics common to vitamins [1]. It is found in the organs of various animal species with highest concentrations in the heart, liver, kidney, muscles and pancreas [2, 3]. Festenstein et al in 1955 named the substance ubiquinone [2] while Crane et al in 1957 choose the name coenzyme Q Ubiquinone is a component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, participating in electron transport in NADH-coenzyme Q reductase (complex I), succinate coenzyme Q reductase (complex II) and the cytochrome system Folkers and his group determined the structure of the quinone moiety which was found identical to that described by Morton and his team, and suggested the name "ubiquinone" referring to the ubiquitous occurrence of this compound in various tissues It is also rich in pancreas and may be protective against type 2 diabetes [6]. In 1957, Crane et al demonstrated that it has an important role as a redox carrier in the mammalian respiratory transport chain A high concentration of CoQ10 observed in healthy human myocardium has led to the assumption that a myocardial deficiency of CoQ10 is detrimental to cardiac function In 1972, Littarru, of Italy and the late Prof. Folkers from Texas, documented a deficiency of CoQ10 in human heart disease, particularly among patients subjected to bypass surgery in Houston, USA