What is it?
What SKQ1 is
1SKQ1 is a synthetic mitochondria-targeted antioxidant built from a plastoquinone-like group linked to a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation. This chemical identity is distinct from the route-specific eye-drop and cosmetic products that use the SkQ1 name.
Names, aliases and forms
Mechanisms of action
Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant design
6SkQ1 is designed to accumulate in mitochondria through a lipophilic cation and deliver plastoquinone-related antioxidant activity near mitochondrial membranes. This mechanism is biologically interesting, but it does not by itself establish cognition, focus, or anti-aging effects in people.
Potential effects and evidence map
Human research for SkQ1 is centered on ophthalmic dry-eye solutions, including randomized trials and clinical-trial registry data. Nootropic relevance comes from mechanistic reviews and animal Alzheimer- or Parkinson-model studies, so cognition, focus, and brain-support claims remain preclinical for supplement shoppers.
SkQ1 has preclinical neuroprotection rationale through mitochondria-targeted antioxidant pathways, but human nootropic benefit has not been shown.
Old OXYS rat studies report Alzheimer-like pathology changes, but this does not establish human memory or learning benefit.
Typical dosages and timing
ClinicalTrials.gov records for dry-eye research list 0.155 mcg/mL and 1.55 mcg/mL SkQ1 ophthalmic solutions dosed twice daily for 28 days in the phase 2 study. These are eye-drop study concentrations, not an oral nootropic dose or a supplement cycle.
Timing & effect horizon
Dry-eye studies followed participants for about 28 to 57 days, depending on the protocol. That study window is not a nootropic duration, The time for blood levels to fall by half during the final elimination phase.Source, onset, or cycling schedule because those measures were not established in healthy oral users.
Safety, side effects and risk profile
No validated oral nootropic dose or healthy-human cognition data were found; available human studies concern ophthalmic solutions.
Product and regulatory context varies by jurisdiction and route; a Russian eye-drop registration does not establish status elsewhere.
The phase 3 dry-eye study excluded pregnant or nursing participants, leaving pregnancy and lactation safety unresolved.
Available ophthalmic studies do not establish general compatibility with other ocular, topical, or systemic therapies.
Ophthalmic trial reports provide local eye-tolerability context, while oral self-use tolerability is not characterized.
The human studies cited here assess ophthalmic solutions. The SkQ product range also includes cosmetic serum, concentrate, and hydrogel formats, so route, product instructions, concentration, storage, and safety information should not be transferred between formulations.
The phase 3 dry-eye study excluded pregnant or nursing participants. That leaves pregnancy and lactation safety unresolved for the studied ophthalmic solution and does not establish safety for other product routes.
Interactions and cautions
Available ophthalmic studies do not establish general compatibility with prescription eye drops, contact-lens products, ocular-surface therapies, anti-inflammatory medicines, or systemic therapies. Route-specific product information remains important when comparing listings.
Legal and regulatory status
Russia, as of 2026-08: the Visomitin manufacturer lists registration number LP-001355 for a named eye-drop product. This manufacturer statement is not a determination of marketing, dietary-supplement, import, or cosmetic status in the United States or any other jurisdiction.
Practical buying and quality notes
- For SKQ1 listings, price-per-unit comparison is less useful until the route is clear. Separate ophthalmic drops from serum, concentrate, and hydrogel, then compare concentration, volume, storage, expiry, and labeled product instructions.9
- Confirm the exact SkQ1 identity, PubChem CID 16679091, formula C36H42BrO2P, and product-specific storage and labeling details. Anti-aging marketing is not evidence of cognitive benefit.1
FAQ
What is SKQ1?
9SKQ1, also written SkQ1, is a synthetic mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone antioxidant. In the manufacturer product range it appears in ophthalmic drops and skin-product formats rather than as a conventional oral nootropic supplement.
Is SKQ1 a nootropic?
6SkQ1 has animal and mechanistic research related to brain oxidative stress, but reliable healthy-human memory, focus, or mood evidence was not found. Nootropic claims therefore remain preclinical unless a product cites relevant human cognition data.
What is the SKQ1 dose?
2The best source-backed number here is ophthalmic concentration, not an oral dose: dry-eye studies used 0.155 mcg/mL and 1.55 mcg/mL SkQ1 eye-drop solutions. A validated oral nootropic dose was not found.
How long does SKQ1 last?
3Human half-life, onset, and practical nootropic duration were not found. Dry-eye trials studied repeated eye-drop use over weeks, which is not a duration or cycle guide for supplement use.
Is SKQ1 safe?
3Safety information is route-specific. Eye-drop trials provide ophthalmic tolerability context, but they do not establish oral or cosmetic-use parameters; pregnancy, lactation, and interaction evidence is also limited.
Why do listings show eye drops and skin products?
9The SkQ product range includes Visomitin eye drops alongside MitoVitan serum or concentrate and Exomitin hydrogel. Compare product form before comparing price or extrapolating evidence from one route to another.
References
- PubChem. SKQ-1 bromide (CID 16679091). Accessed 2026-07-01.
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02121301: SkQ1 ophthalmic solution in dry eye syndrome. Results posted 2020-10-14.
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03764735: Study of SkQ1 as treatment for dry-eye syndrome (VISTA-1). Results posted 2022-01-19.
- Brzheskiy VV, et al. Results of a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical study of the efficacy and safety of Visomitin eye drops in patients with dry eye syndrome. Adv Ther. 2015;32(12):1263-1279.
- Wei Y, et al. The role of SKQ1 (Visomitin) in inflammation and wound healing of the ocular surface. Ophthalmol Ther. 2019;8(1):63-73.
- Isaev NK, et al. Neuroprotective properties of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants of the SkQ-type. Rev Neurosci. 2016;27(8):849-855.
- Stefanova NA, et al. Antioxidant SkQ1 alleviates signs of Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in old OXYS rats by reversing mitochondrial deterioration. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2017;14(12):1283-1292.
- Muraleva NA, et al. Effects of mitochondrial antioxidant SkQ1 on biochemical and behavioral parameters in a Parkinsonism model in mice. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2017;82(12):1513-1520.
- SkQ Project. Product range: Visomitin eye drops and MitoVitan/Exomitin cosmetic products. Accessed 2026-08-20.
- Visomitin. About the product; manufacturer lists Russian registration number LP-001355. Accessed 2026-08-20.