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Updated: May 12, 2026

Experimental Protocol for Detecting Mitochondrial Function in Hepatocytes Exposed to Organochlorine Pesticides
Published on: September 16, 2020
Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by honokiol
Jia-Xin Dong1, Guang-Yuan Zhao, Qiu-Li-Yang Yu
1Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Ministry of Education of China, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Honokiol has shown the ability to induce the apoptosis of several different cancer cell lines. Considering that mitochondria are involved in apoptosis, the aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of honokiol on mitochondria. The effects of honokiol on the permeability of H⁺ and K⁺, membrane potential, membrane fluidity, respiration and swelling of mitochondria isolated from the rat liver were assessed. The results show that honokiol can significantly induce mitochondrial swelling, decrease membrane potential and affect the respiration of mitochondria. Meanwhile, honokiol does not have a direct effect on the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
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