# The Neuroameliorative Effects of Enzymatically Modified Isoquercitrin and Sodium R-lipoate on the Rotenone rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

## TL;DR

This study shows that EMIQ and NaRLA reduce neuroinflammation and improve motor function in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the neuroameliorative effects of EMIQ and NaRLA in a rotenone-induced PD model.

## Key findings

- EMIQ and NaRLA reduced neuroinflammation by lowering TLR4, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels.
- The compounds improved motor impairments by increasing dopamine and TH immunoreactivity.
- They decreased IBA1+ microglial cells, indicating reduced neuroinflammation.

## Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition distinguished by both motor and non-motor signs. Currently, therapeutic interventions effectively mitigate motor symptoms; however, they fail to impede the progression of neurodegeneration. Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) is a variant of isoquercitrin with enhanced bioavailability and potentially greater health benefits. Sodium R-Lipoate (NaRLA) is a modified form of lipoic acid with improved stability and efficacy. The current work assessed EMIQ and NaRLA neuroameliorative properties in a rotenone (ROT) model of PD in rats. The study employed open field and hanging tests to evaluate motor effects, and used dopamine (DA) estimation and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity to confirm motor abnormalities and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, neuroinflammation was evaluated through ELISA of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6), expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) via qRT-PCR, and immunoreactivity of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1). The findings indicated that the use of EMIQ and NaRLA with ROT reduced the neuroinflammation via decreasing: the expression level of TLR4, IL-1β and IL-6 levels, and the number of IBA1+ microglial cells. Moreover, EMIQ and NaRLA ameliorated motor impairments induced with ROT through the enhancement of rats’ behavior, increasing DA concentration and TH immunoreactivity in the striatum. In the light of the findings of the current investigation, EMIQ and NaRLA exerted neuroameliorative effects against the ROT‐induced PD model. These results provide support for the potential impact of EMIQ and NaRLA in the treatment of PD and other diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11064-026-04715-9.