Luteolin protects PC12 cells from rotenone-induced apoptosis

The 4-hydroxy-flavonoid compound luteolin is a phytoestrogen with antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and anti-tumor properties.The present study analyzed the protective effects of luteolin against rotenone-induced PC12 cell apoptosis in a model of Parkinson’s disease(PD). Rotenone(1.6 μmol/L) was utilized to establish the in vitro PD model,resulting in low cell viability and an apoptotic rate of 36.1%. Luteolin(100 μmol/L) pretreatment significantly ameliorated rotenone-induced damage,improved cell morphology and viability,decreased comet tail length,reduced the rate of apoptosis(11.8%),and down-regulated cleaved caspase-3 expression. Results demonstrate that luteolin protects PC12 cells against rotenone-induced apoptosis by decreasing cleaved caspase-3 expression.