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 mu mol/L) was utilized to establish the in vitro PD model, resulting in low cell viability and an apoptotic rate of 36.1%. Luteolin (100 mu mol/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.