Toxic cytological alteration and mitochondrial dysfunction in PC12 cells induced by 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

► The imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) has cytotoxicity on PC12 cells. ► The IL causes DNA damage and apoptosis in PC 12 cells. ► The IL induces rise of intracellular Ca2+, overproduction of ROS, and exhausted ATP. ► The IL induce mitochondrial permeability transition in the cells.