 In 1966, A. Mellors and A. L. Tappel at the University of California were to first to show that reduced CoQ6 was an effective antioxidant in cells.In 1960s Peter D. Mitchell enlarged upon the understanding of mitochondrial function via his theory of electrochemical gradient, which involves CoQ10, and in late 1970s studies of Lars Ernster enlargened upon the importance of CoQ10 as an antioxidant.The 1980s witnessed a steep rise in the number of clinical trials involving CoQ10.