Figure 1. Effect of 6-shogaol on viability and apoptosis in HCC cells.

(A) The chemical structure of 6-shogaol. (B) SMMC-7721, BEL-7404 and HepG2 cells were treated with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 µM 6-shogaol for 24 h respectively, and the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. (C) SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 µM 6-shogaol for 24, 48, and 72 h respectively, and the cell viability was examined by MTT assay. (D) Cells (1×10⁶) were treated with 20 µM 6-shogaol for 24 h and stained with Hoechst 33258. Original magnification ×400. (E) Cells were treated with 20 µM 6-shogoal for 12 and 24 h. DNA frangemntation was determined. (F and G) SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 20 µM 6-shogaol for 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. The cells were stained with Annexin V/PI, and apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. (H) Normal human liver HL-7702 cells were treated with 20, 40, and 80 µM 6-shogaol for 24 h. Apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry.