Fig 1. Huaier extract reduced cell viability and triggered intracellular vesicular organelles in breast cancer cells.

(A, C and E) The cytotoxic effect of Huaier extract was measured using the MTT assay. Cells were treated with different concentrations of Huaier extract over indicated time periods and subjected to the MTT assay. The viability of untreated cells was considered 100%. The experiments were performed in triplicate and data is presented as the mean ± SD of three separate experiments. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01. (B, D and F) Micrographs show the appearance of vesicular organelles in breast cancer cells after 48 h of exposure to Huaier extract. Arrows indicate the intracellular vacuoles. Bars, 10 μm. (G) AO/EB staining of T47D cells was performed to detect apoptosis and necrosis induced by Huaier extract. Bars, 50 μm. (H) Representative TUNEL staining (red fluorescence) of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with or without Huaier extract. Bars, 50 μm.