Fig. 4.

The active compound of EERL licochalcone A induces apoptosis in DU145 cells. (A) Structure of Licochalcone A. (B) Serum-deprived cells were treated with 0-8 mmol/L licochalcone A, and cell numbers were estimated by MTT assay. Each bar represents the mean ± SEM (n = 6). (C) Serum-deprived cells were treated with licochalcone A for 24 h. Cells were stained with 7-aminoactinomycin D and Annexin V, and were then analyzed by flow cytometry. The number of living cells and apoptotic cells is expressed as a percentage of total cell number. Each bar represents the mean ± SEM (n = 6). (D) Cell lysates were analyzed by Western blotting with the indicated antibodies. Photographs of the chemiluminescent detection of the blots, which were representative of three independent experiments, are shown. The relative abundance of each band to their own β-actin was quantified and the control levels were set at 1. The adjusted mean ± SEM (n = 3) of each band is shown above each blot. (E) Cells were treated with or without 8 µmol/L licochalcone A for 24 h and stained with propidium iodide, and the cell cycle was analyzed via flow cytometry. Each bar represents the mean ± SEM (n = 6). Means with different letters differ significantly, P < 0.05.