Serum free H9C2 cultures were pre-treated with DMEM, or LY294002 at 10 μM, for 3 hours prior to treatment of 1.0 mg/mL of DBT or various concentration of ferulic acid for indicated time. Phosphorylation of Akt (P-Akt) was detected by immunoblot analysis using specific antibodies, total Akt (T-Akt) served as internal control (A). Quantification of P-Akt from the blot at 15 min was calculated by a densitometer (B). Phosphorylation values were expressed as the ratio to the basal reading where the time zero (without treatment) equaled to 1, values were expressed as mean ± SEM, where n = 3. *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01 as compared to the control.