Table 1.

Toxins and inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory complexes.

Complexes	Toxins/Inhibitors	Mechanism of Action	References
Complex-I	Rotenone	Inhibition of electron transport from the iron-sulfur centers in complex I to ubiquinone.	[26]
	Myxothiazol	Inhibits mitochondrial respiration in the bc1 complex of the respiratory chain.
	Metformin	Directly targeting ETC complex 1, resulting in inhibition of ATP synthesis	[27]
Complex-II	Thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA)	Inhibits complex-II by binding to two ubiquinone binding sites, Qp and Qd.	[28]
	2-[1-Methylhexyl]-4,6-Dinitrophenol	Targets succinate dehydrogenase flavoprotein subunit.
Complex-III	Antimycins	Prevents transfer of electrons from cytochrome b to c1	[29]
	Ubiquinone Q2, B-2-Octylglucoside	Targets ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase iron-sulphur subunit
Complex-IV	Cyanide	Binds with iron and prevent transfer of electrons.	[30]
	Carbon Monoxide	Binds with the reduced form of iron in the heme groups and blocks transfer of electrons to oxygen.	[31]
	Azide	Reacts with ferric form of Complex-IV and blocks further electron flow.	[32]
Complex-V	Efrapeptin	F1-targeting, binding pocket localized in α, β and γ subunits	[33]
	Oligomycin	Binds to the Fo subunit and inhibits the apoptosis induced by Bax
	Aurovertin B	Localized mainly in the β subunit.