Oyagbemi_2025_Niger.J.Physiol.Sci_40_251

Exposure of pesticide and complex I inhibitor, rotenone has been shown to reproduce features of Parkinson's disease, including selective nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration and alpha-synuclein-positive cytoplasmic inclusions. Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups (n=10) and orally treated for 28 consecutive days as follows; group 1: vehicle (10 mL/kg), group 2- vehicle + rotenone (10 mg/kg p.o. in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), group 3 - rotenone + 100 mg/kg Luteolin, group 4 - rotenone + 200 mg/kg Luteolin, group 5 - 100 mg/kg Luteolin and group 6 - 200 mg/kg Luteolin, respectively. At the end of the experiment, brain tissues were harvested for biomarkers of oxidative stress, neurobehavioural studies, histology, and immunohistochemistry of Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha), Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FXMRP), serotonin, and tyrosine hydroxylase were evaluated. Rotenone toxicity significantly enhanced biomarkers of oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity, and declined antioxidant defense system. Significant reduction in motor coordination and movement disorder together with vacuolation (demyelination) and atrophy of neurons were observed in ROT-untreated mice. Treatment of mice with Luteolin lowered oxidative stress biomarkers, neuroinflammation, Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein expression, improved expression of serotonin and tyrosine hydroxylase production, and restored neuronal ultrastructure anarchy.