Cytotoxicity of monocrotaline in isolated rat hepatocytes: Effects of dithiothreitol and fructose

► Monocrotaline causes hepatotoxicity in animals and humans. ► Its metabolite dehydromonocrotaline has been reported as responsible by the toxicity. ► Only dehydromonocrotaline inhibited the mitochondrial complex I-linked respiration. ► Monocrotaline caused cellular death by apoptosis after its metabolism stimulation. ► Fructose or dithiotreitol prevented the toxic effect of monocrotaline on hepatocytes.