Figure 1.

Effects of safflower yellow B (SYB) on H₂O₂-induced cell injury. (A) Cells were treated with SYB (50, 100 and 150 nmol/l) for 24 h before being treated with H₂O₂ (200 µmol/l), and cell viability was assayed by MTT assay. The results are expressed as percentages of the control. (B) HepG2 cells were incubated with or without SYB (50, 100 and 150 nmol/l) for 24 h before being treated with H₂O₂ (200 µmol/l), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage (% of total LDH) was assayed as described in the Materials and methods. (C) Cell apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) double staining. (D) SYB attenuated the H₂O₂-induced changes in the caspase-3 levels. Data represent the means ± SD. ^##P<0.01, statistically significant difference between model vs. control group; ^*P<0.05 and ^**P<0.01, statistically significant difference between SYB vs. model group.