Rotenone

Rotenone belongs to the retinoid family. It is naturally present in Leguminosa plants and is considered to be cytotoxic. It is commonly used as an insecticide and a pesticide.

Rotenone has been used:

• to study its effect on cell proliferation
• to detect the production of cellular reactive oxygen species in isolated rat forebrain mitochondria
• to measure mitochondrial enzymatic activity

Inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport.

Rotenone is an inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport at nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH):ubiquinone oxidoreductase. It is readily absorbed through the exoskeletons of arthropods, but poorly absorbed cutaneously or from the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. Rotenone acts as a neurotoxic agent which can produce Parkinson-like condition to serve as an animal model for the study of etiology and interventions. The primary mechanism of action of rotenone is complex I inhibition, followed by the generation of oxidative stress and oxidative damage. Because rotenone is lipophilic, it readily penetrates the brain, where it attaches to and inhibits mitochondrial complex I of electron chain transport (ETC).

This product is soluble in DMSO at 0.5 mg/ml. Other sources suggest it can be dissolved in DMSO up to 100 mM, however this has not been verified.