Rifampicin inhibits rotenone-induced microglial inflammation via enhancement of autophagy.

•Rifampicin pretreatment alleviated rotenone-induced release of IL-1β and IL-6 in microglia.•Rifampicin reversed rotenone-induced mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS accumulation.•Chloroquine abolishes the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of rifampicin.•Rifampicin induced the expressions of autophagic markers and cytoplasmic vacuoles in microglia.•Rifampicin promoted mitophagy in BV2 microglia exposed to rotenone.