Agrochemicals: A Brief Overview
Dongyou Liu in Handbook of Foodborne Diseases, 2018
Rotenone is a “natural” insecticide derived from the roots of Derri Elliptica and from those of Lonchocarpus urucu and is used particularly in organic farming (103). It is very toxic to fish, and indeed root extracts were used to paralyze fish for capture and consumption. The toxicity of rotenone is due to its ability to inhibit the mitochondrial respiratory chain at the level complex I (104). Acute intoxication with rotenone is rare, and poisoning symptoms include initial increased respiratory and cardiac rates, clonic and tonic spasms, and respiratory depression. In recent years, however, rotenone has received much attention because of its potential role in the etiology of Parkinson disease. Administration of rotenone to rats (2–3 mg/kg/day for 1–5 weeks) causes selective nigrostriatal degeneration as well as protein inclusions similar to Lewy bodies, that stain positively for ubiquitin and α-synuclein (105,106). An association between use of rotenone and increased risk of Parkinson disease has been reported (36), though the role of rotenone in the etiology of Parkinson disease in the general population is still being debated (107).
Catalog of Herbs
James A. Duke in Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2018
Hägers Handbook lists jamaicin C22H18O, beta-sitosterol, cerotinic-, stearic-, malic-, succinic-, eretic-, tartaric-, and citronic-acid, tannin, resins, sumatrol, lisetine, piscerythrone, piscidone, millettone, isomellettone, and dehydromellettone. Rotenone, C23H22O6, while piscicidal and insecticidal, has also shown anticancer activity against lymphocytic leukemia10 and cell cultures of human epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx.4 Like so many other anticancer compounds, the rotenone is also said to be carcinogenic.10 The aqueous extract of the bark contains piscidic acid and a bitter glucoside. It also is reported to contain an alkaloid. All parts, more especially the root bark, contain ichthyotoxic substances variously reported as circa 0.25% ichthynone (C2,H14O5), piscidin (C29H24O8) or piscidic acid (C11H12O7), and rotenone.33,42
Ethnobotany of the Neem Tree (Azadirachta Indica a. Juss): A Review
T. Pullaiah, K. V. Krishnamurthy, Bir Bahadur in Ethnobotany of India, 2017
In Africa and Caribbean, users of this plant, especially children, eat ripe fruits of Neem. In India, since ancient times the tender leaves of Neem are consumed as food and for tea preparations. Domestic animals are also fed with Neem leaves (Hedge, 1993). Despite A. indica being known for its pesticidal properties there are no records of Neem toxicity to humans, probable by avoiding higher doses. In fact, it was observed that, toxic effects of Neem oil in mammals occur only at higher doses (Deng et al., 2013). This toxicity is not lower compared to the natural compound rotenone (largely used as a broad spectrum insecticide, piscicide and pesticide) (Coats, 1994). Woollen and other cloths are stored with dried neem leaves, due to insecticidal properties as also various cereals and other grains for long term storage.
Pharmacological approach using doxycycline and tocopherol in rotenone induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and Parkinson’s like symptoms
Published in International Journal of Neuroscience, 2022
Shamsher Singh, Kanupriya Chauhan
Rotenone is a lipophilic naturally occurring pesticide. Rotenone is a naturally occurring chemical found in a variety of plants that have been utilized as a broad-spectrum insecticide and pesticide. Rotenone inhibits complex I, which stops the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Rotenone is a lipophilic compound that easily passes through the blood–brain barrier. Rotenone cytotoxicity is caused by oxidative stress and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Greenamyre and colleagues were the first to create an animal model of PD based on rotenone administration via osmotic minipumps. Rotenone administration resulted in the loss of nigrostriatal DA neurons, as well as the production of α-synuclein inclusions and the development of hypokinetic-rigid characteristics in some of the animals. Available studies have reported that the intraperitoneal administration of rotenone reduces the concentration of dopamine and l-dopa responsive locomotor abnormalities [4]. Moreover, it is inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and induces rapid motor impairment that has been used as a model of PD. It also reproduces many features including microglial activation, oxidative damage, selective nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration and systemic mitochondrial impairment [5].
Rotenone induces hepatotoxicity in rats by activating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2022
Huan Wang, Mohan Huo, Yinzhu Jin, Yao Wang, Xuewei Wang, Wenhui Yu, Xiaowen Jiang
Since 1840s, rotenone is considered as a ‘natural pesticide’, which is safe, efficient, and does not pollute the agricultural ecological environment and agricultural products. Rotenone has low toxicity to mammals and is an ideal insecticide in comprehensive pest control, which is widely used in gardens (Hernandez-Moreno et al. 2013). Rotenone has strong lipophilicity, so it is easy to enter the digestive tract and skin. After entering the cell through the biofilm, it will gather around the organelles such as mitochondria and cause strong toxic effects (Richardson et al. 2019). By inhibiting the respiration of the cells in the nerve and muscle tissue of the pest, the respiration and heartbeat of the pest are weakened, which leads to paralysis and death of the pest. Studies have shown that Rotenone works in a similar way to polyester insecticides, but the activity and durability of rotenone were higher than polyester insecticides (Soloway 1976; Catinot et al. 1989; Simeone et al. 2009).
Metformin protects red blood cells against rotenone induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity
Published in Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 2021
Shambhoo Sharan Tripathi, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Farhan Akhtar, Ankita Chaudhary, Syed Ibrahim Rizvi
The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the anti-oxidative potential of metformin to limit rotenone-induced toxicity in blood. Rotenone is a widely used plant-derived broad-spectrum pesticide (piscicide, acaricide, and insecticide). Being extremely hydrophobic, rotenone can easily cross biological membranes, apparently without a transport system (Esteve-Rudd et al.2011). According to WHO classification, rotenone is a dangerous Class II pesticide. Rotenone induces toxicity through ROS over-production and oxidative stress (Sherer et al.2003), which further leads to a neurodegenerative disorder like Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Tanner et al.2011). It has also been observed that rotenone induces eryptosis, a common cell death mechanism of erythrocytes. In addition, it induces cell membrane scrambling that results in erythrocytes shrinkage (Lupescu et al.2012). As a consequence, rotenone toxicity may lead to premature removal of circulating erythrocytes (Jelkmann 2012). The disproportionate eryptosis may also lead to anaemia (Lang et al.2008), significantly a higher incidence of anaemia has been reported in patients with PD (Kasten et al.2010). The anaemia could also be an early symptom for other neurological disorders (Kasten et al.2010, Savica et al.2010).
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