Title:A Critical Analysis of Quercetin as the Attractive Target for the Treatment
of Parkinson's Disease
Volume: 21
Issue: 9
Author(s): Ozlem Bahadır Acıkara, Gökçe Şeker Karatoprak, Çiğdem Yücel, Esra Küpeli Akkol*, Eduardo Sobarzo-Sánchez, Maryam Khayatkashani, Mohammad Amjad Kamal and Hamid Reza Khayat Kashani*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacognosy,
Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler 06330, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Hossein
Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Parkinson’s disease, quercetin, natural compound, neuroprotective, nanodelivery systems, antioxidant activity.
Abstract: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a multifaceted disorder with various factors suggested to play a
synergistic pathophysiological role, such as oxidative stress, autophagy, pro-inflammatory events, and
neurotransmitter abnormalities. While it is crucial to discover new treatments in addition to preventing
PD, recent studies have focused on determining whether nutraceuticals will exert neuroprotective
actions and pharmacological functions in PD. Quercetin, a flavonol-type flavonoid, is found in many
fruits and vegetables and is recognised as a complementary therapy for PD. The neuroprotective effect
of quercetin is directly associated with its antioxidant activity, in addition to stimulating cellular defence
against oxidative stress. Other related mechanisms are activating Sirtuins (SIRT1) and inducing
autophagy, in addition to induction of Nrf2-ARE and Paraoxonase 2 (PON2). Quercetin, whose neuroprotective
activity has been demonstrated in many studies, unfortunately, has a disadvantage because
of its poor water solubility, chemical instability, and low oral bioavailability. It has been reported that the
disadvantages of quercetin have been eliminated with nanocarriers loaded with quercetin. The role of
nanotechnology and nanodelivery systems in reducing oxidative stress during PD provides an
indisputable advantage. Accordingly, the present review aims to shed light on quercetin's beneficial
effects and underlying mechanisms in neuroprotection. In addition, the contribution of nanodelivery
systems to the neuroprotective effect of quercetin is also discussed.