Fig. 2.

Equol induced the apoptosis of MGC-803 cells through the mitochondria-mediated pathway. (A and B) The levels of proteins associated with apoptosis and caspase cleavage were determined by western blotting using specific antibodies: (A) Cells were treated with 20 μM equol for 12, 24 and 48 h; (B) Cells were treated with equol at various concentrations for 24 h. GAPDH was utilized as the loading control. (C) Cells treated with the vehicle or 20 μM equol were harvested, and their mitochondrial membrane potentials were analysed according to JC-1 staining using flow cytometry (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs control).