The activity of topical coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) in burned rats: Results from an experimental study

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of topically applied coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) (ubiquinol) for wound healing in rats with experimentally induced burn injuries.
METHODS: A total of 27 rats was divided into three groups, and administered general anesthesia. No further intervention was performed for Group 1 (Control). Hot water (95°C) was applied to rats in Groups 2 and 3 for 10 seconds. The rats in Group 2 received silver sulfadiazine, whereas those in Group 3 received topical CoQ10. Biopsy specimens were obtained at days 3 and 10.
RESULTS: In the group treated with CoQ10 (Group 3), there was not statistically meaningful difference among Days 3 and 10 in terms of inflammation and epidermal/vascular/collagen damage. In terms of edema, there was a statistically meaningful distinction among the CoQ10 group (Group 3) at Day 10 and the silver sulfadiazine group (Group 2) at Day 3. In terms of oxygen radicals, there was a statistically meaningful difference among the CoQ10 group and the silver sulfadiazine group at Day 10.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This investigation did not demonstrate a beneficial role of treatment with CoQ10 for the healing of burn wounds for most parameters. But in the long term (10 day); immunohistochemical analysis performed to determine edema and oxidative stress showed that treatment with CoQ10 reduced the levels of oxygen radicals in biopsies. The limitation of our study is that the duration is limited to 10 days. For this reason longer term studies were required.