Metformin protects red blood cells against rotenone induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity

Context: The anti-diabetic medicine metformin has been reported as an anti-ageing drug candidate as it mimics the benefits of caloric restriction and reduces ageing-related oxidative stress in various experimental organisms. Objective: We investigated the possible anti-oxidative role of metformin against rotenone-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in erythrocytes of Wistar rats. Rotenone is a well-known inducer of oxidative stress which leads to a cellular redox imbalance. Materials and methods: We have co-exposed the experimental rats with rotenone (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and metformin (300 mg/kg, orally) for 30 days to investigate the protective effects of metformin on various rotenone-induced impaired oxidative stress biomarkers in rat erythrocytes. Results: We found that a significant alleviation in the levels of rotenone-induced pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant markers following exposure of metformin. Discussion and conclusions: Our findings suggest that metformin supplementation shows a protective role in against rotenone-induced redox imbalance and cytotoxicity in rat erythrocytes.