RUDN University Chemists obtained coenzyme from Parsley and Dill seeds

Coenzymes of the Q group in mammals and plants are responsible for maintaining the energy metabolism of cells. They are powerful antioxidants and regulate the permeability ofmitochondrial membranes. Coenzyme Q0 is known to reduce and even suppress metastasis in breast, skin and ovarian cancers.
“We proposed a simple way to obtain the necessary element for the synthesis of Q0 precursors based on allylpolymethoxybenzenes. It is easy to isolate them in large quantities from parsley and dill extract,” says RUDN scientist Viktor Khrustalev.
The main stage on the way of obtaining a coenzyme is hydrogenation to allylpolymethoxybenzenes fragments. This process takes place in a special apparatus with a fluoroplastic insert using aporous palladium catalyst. After use, the reaction mixture is separated from the catalyst without additional filters.
The minimum reaction time is 4 to 8 hours. However, with an increased hydrogen pressure,the reaction takes 2-4 hours. Even with accelerated production, no methylbenzene by-products remain after hydrogenation, which simplifies further purification. The catalyst canthen be used up to 40 times.
"With the help of X-ray diffraction analysis, we have confirmed the spatial structure of there sulting compound. This allows further study of its antitumor and antioxidant properties,"explained Viktor Khrustalev, Doctor of Chemistry, Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia.
The RUDN University Science and Innovation Prize winners were honoured at the extended meeting of the Academic Council. In 2024 the terms of the traditional RUDN University Prize were changed: for the first time the competition was announced in two categories: leading scientists and young scientists.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity consumption in Africa has increased by more than 100% over the past two years (2020-2022). However, 74.9% of this energy is still produced by burning organic fuels — natural gas, coal and oil. At the same time, the level of electrification on the continent remains extremely low — only 24%, while in other developing countries it reaches 40%. Even in grid-connected areas, electricity supply is often unreliable: industrial enterprises lose energy on an average of 56 days a year.
Today, diagnosis and treatment planning with orthodontists takes several days. Also, complications can arise during treatment that slow down the patient's recovery process. For example, improper orthodontic treatment planning can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
The RUDN University Science and Innovation Prize winners were honoured at the extended meeting of the Academic Council. In 2024 the terms of the traditional RUDN University Prize were changed: for the first time the competition was announced in two categories: leading scientists and young scientists.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity consumption in Africa has increased by more than 100% over the past two years (2020-2022). However, 74.9% of this energy is still produced by burning organic fuels — natural gas, coal and oil. At the same time, the level of electrification on the continent remains extremely low — only 24%, while in other developing countries it reaches 40%. Even in grid-connected areas, electricity supply is often unreliable: industrial enterprises lose energy on an average of 56 days a year.
Today, diagnosis and treatment planning with orthodontists takes several days. Also, complications can arise during treatment that slow down the patient's recovery process. For example, improper orthodontic treatment planning can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.