Biochemical and cell-biological methods were used to quantify the oxidative-stress-protection capacity of numerous antioxidants. These tests were conducted for idebenone, tocopherol (vitamin E), kinetin, ubiquinone (CoQ10), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and lipoic acid.
These tests compared the protective capacity of antioxidants using the following methods:
- Sunburn cell assay test-An in vivo test of the ability of antioxidants to block sun damage (sunburn cells) to human skin from UV light
- Photochemiluminescence test-Measured the overall capacity to quench free radicals generated in vitro by a chemical reaction
- Primary oxidative products-Free radicals attack healthy cells by breaking down the natural lipid barrier; this in vitro test measures the ability to protect lipids from breaking down when exposed to oxidative stress
- Secondary oxidative products-Free radicals set off a chain reaction that can be highly damaging to cellular membranes; this in vitro test showed the capacity of antioxidants to protect cell membranes
- UVB-irradiated keratinocytes-UVB rays penetrate into skin and cause damage to cells that produce collagen and elastin; this in vitro test measured the capacity of antioxidants to block these reactions
Correlations and trends between the test results showed that idebenone appeared as a powerful antioxidant most consistently throughout all experiments.3
- McDaniel DH, Neudecker BA, DiNardo JC, Lewis JA II, Maibach HI. Clinical efficacy assessment in photodamaged skin of 0.5% and 1.0% idebenone. J Cosm Derm. 2005;4:167Ð173.
- Data on file, Allergan, Inc. DiNardo JC. Four-week clinical expert grader evaluation of PREVAGE® MD (1.0% idebenone) for the treatment of photodamage. 2005.
- McDaniel DH, Neudecker BA, DiNardo JC, Lewis JA II, Maibach HI. Idebenone: a new antioxidant-part I. A relative assessment of oxidative stress protection capacity compared to commonly known antioxidants. J Cosm Derm. 2005;4(1):10-17.
