This is from Wikipedia: Rotenone works by interfering with the
electron transport chain
in
mitochondria
. It inhibits the transfer of electrons from iron-sulfur centers in
complex I
to
ubiquinone
. This interferes with
NADH
during the creation of usable cellular energy (
ATP
).
[8] Complex I is unable to pass off its electron to
CoQ
, creating a back-up of electrons within the mitochondrial matrix. Cellular oxygen is reduced to the radical, creating
reactive oxygen species
, which can damage
DNA
and other components of the mitochondria