Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a well-known antioxidant molecule which is used in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, but due to poor solubility it suffers with the drawback of low oral bioavailability. The aim of present study was to prepare and characterize CoQ10 loaded nanoemulsion to improve the oral bioavailability. Prepared formulation was studied for droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), percentage transmittance, refractive index, viscosity, zeta potential, surface morphology by transmission electron microscopy, and in vitro release study. Optimized formulation (A10) showed spherical droplets with mean diameter of 60.00 ± 15 nm, PDI of 0.121 ± 0.053, and zeta potential values of -24.40 ± 0.16 mV. Prepared nanoemulsion exhibited good transmittance (100.50% ± 0.86%), refractive index (1.41 ± 0.02), and viscosity (30.54 ± 2.86 cP). Various behavioral tests like forced swimming test, locomotor activity test, catalepsy, muscle coordination test, and akinesia test performed in haloperidol challenged rats and treated with CoQ10 nanoemulsion significantly improved the behavioral activities in comparison to CoQ10 suspension by reducing nigrostriatal dopamine depletion and thereby helping in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Biochemical estimation data showed that CoQ10 nanoemulsion was helpful in elevating the decreased content of glutathione and reducing the increased content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Improved CoQ10 release was obtained with nanoemulsions. Pharmacokinetic study results revealed that nanoemulsion exhibited 1.81 times enhancement in bioavailability in comparison to CoQ10 suspension.
Keywords: behavioral studies; biochemical estimation; coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10); everted gut sac; nanoemulsion; spontaneous emulsification.