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Journals / Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 3

Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone Nanoformulations in Neurological Disorders

Timokinon Nanoformülasyonlarının Nörolojik Bozukluklardaki Terapötik Potansiyeli

Rabia Akgöz(SİVAS CUMHURİYET ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ECZACILIK FAKÜLTESİ, ECZACILIK MESLEK BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, FARMAKOGNOZİ ANABİLİM DALI)0009-0005-3493-0606
Gökçe Şeker Karatoprak(ERCİYES ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ECZACILIK FAKÜLTESİ, ECZACILIK MESLEK BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, FARMAKOGNOZİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-5829-6914
Çiğdem Yücel(ERCİYES ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ECZACILIK FAKÜLTESİ, ECZACILIK TEKNOLOJİSİ BÖLÜMÜ, FARMASOTİK TEKNOLOJİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-0622-5150
Pages
983–999
Publication Date
2026-09-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Findings from 15 studies analyzed within this scope demonstrate that thymoquinone nanoformulations are promising candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases; however, higher-quality and standardized studies are needed for successful translation into clinical applications.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Thymoquinone (2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone), the principal bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa L., has gained considerable attention as a neuroprotective agent owing to its multifaceted pharmacodynamic actions targeting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
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Key Findings & Data:Experimental studies demonstrate that thymoquinone enhances neuronal viability and alleviates behavioral and motor impairments in models of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, and traumatic brain injury.
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Conclusion & Impact:Findings from 15 studies analyzed within this scope demonstrate that thymoquinone nanoformulations are promising candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases; however, higher-quality and standardized studies are needed for successful translation into clinical applications.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Timokinon · Nigella sativa · Nanopartiküller

Abstract

Thymoquinone (2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone), the principal bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa L., has gained considerable attention as a neuroprotective agent owing to its multifaceted pharmacodynamic actions targeting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Excessive reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial dysfunction, activation of neuroinflammatory cascades, and neurotransmitter imbalance play central roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental studies demonstrate that thymoquinone enhances neuronal viability and alleviates behavioral and motor impairments in models of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, and traumatic brain injury. Mechanistically, it strengthens endogenous antioxidant defense systems, suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production, modulates apoptotic signaling pathways, and attenuates oxidative damage. Its anti-inflammatory effects are mediated through regulation of Toll-like receptors, nuclear factor kappa B, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Despite these promising effects, clinical translation remains limited due to poor aqueous solubility, susceptibility to photodegradation, rapid systemic elimination, low oral bioavailability, and restricted permeability across the blood–brain barrier. Nanotechnology-based delivery systems offer a rational strategy to overcome these pharmaceutical and biological barriers. Polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles, along with surface-modified nanocarriers, enhance solubility and stability, provide controlled and sustained release, and significantly improve brain bioavailability. This review evaluates the neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone within the framework of experimental evidence and clinical translational potential, and analyzes the pharmacokinetic and therapeutic advantages provided by nanoformulation strategies. Findings from 15 studies analyzed within this scope demonstrate that thymoquinone nanoformulations are promising candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases; however, higher-quality and standardized studies are needed for successful translation into clinical applications.

Özet

Nigella sativa L.’nin başlıca biyoaktif bileşiği olan timokinon (2-izopropil-5-metil-1,4-benzokinon), oksidatif stres ve nöroinflamasyonu hedefleyen çok yönlü farmakodinamik özellikleri nedeniyle nöroprotektif bir aday olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Nörodejeneratif hastalıkların patogenezinde reaktif oksijen türlerinin artışı, mitokondriyal disfonksiyon, nöroinflamatuvar yolak aktivasyonu ve nörotransmitter dengesizlikleri merkezi rol oynamaktadır. Deneysel çalışmalar, timokinonun Alzheimer ve Parkinson hastalığı, depresyon, epilepsi, serebral iskemi ve travmatik beyin hasarı modellerinde nöronal hücre canlılığını artırdığını, davranışsal ve motor işlev bozukluklarını iyileştirdiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca antioksidan savunma sistemlerini güçlendirdiği, proinflamatuvar sitokinleri baskıladığı, apoptotik sinyal yolaklarını modüle ettiği ve oksidatif hasarı azalttığı belirtilmektedir. Timokinonun Toll-benzeri reseptörler, nükleer faktör kappa hafif zincirli aktive edici B hücreleri, interlökin-6, interlökin-1β ve tümör nekroz faktör-α gibi inflamatuvar bileşenleri modüle ederek belirgin antiinflamatuvar etkiler ortaya koyduğu da gösterilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, düşük suda çözünürlük, fotodegradasyon eğilimi, hızlı sistemik eliminasyon ve sınırlı oral biyoyararlanım timokinonun klinik uygulamaya aktarımını önemli ölçüde sınırlamaktadır. Ayrıca kan-beyin bariyeri, merkezi sinir sistemine etkin ilaç iletimi açısından kritik bir biyolojik engel oluşturmaktadır. Nanoteknoloji temelli taşıyıcı sistemler, bu farmasötik sınırlılıkları aşmada etkili bir strateji sunmaktadır. Polimerik ve lipidik nanopartiküller ile yüzey modifikasyonlu nanotaşıyıcılar; çözünürlüğü ve stabiliteyi artırmakta, kontrollü ve sürdürülebilir salım sağlamakta ve beyin dokusunda biyoyararlanımı anlamlı biçimde iyileştirmektedir. Bu derleme, timokinonun nöroprotektif etkilerini deneysel veriler ve klinik translasyon potansiyeli çerçevesinde değerlendirmekte ve nanoformülasyon stratejilerinin sağladığı farmakokinetik ve terapötik avantajları analiz etmektedir. Bu kapsamda analiz edilen 15 çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular, timokinon nanoformülasyonlarının nörodejeneratif hastalıkların tedavisinde umut vadeden güçlü adaylar olduğunu göstermekte; ancak klinik uygulamaya geçiş için daha yüksek kalitede ve standardize çalışmalara ihtiyaç olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Akgöz, R., Karatoprak, G. Ş., Yücel, Ç. (2026). Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone Nanoformulations in Neurological Disorders. Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 3, 983–999. https://doi.org/10.21597/jist.1896900

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