Figure 3. Vitexin treatment abolishes nuclear translocation of HSF-1 and induces apoptosis.

HCT-116^DR cells were treated with vitexin at the indicated concentrations for 24 h. (A) Nuclear extracts and total cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. (B) Results of Apostrand ELISA assays following treatment of HCT-116^DR cells with vitexin for 24 h. (C) Apoptosis-marker proteins were detected by western blotting following treatment of HCT-116^DR cells with vitexin for 24 h. (D) HCT-116^DR cells were stained with Hoechst 33342, after which cell nuclei were observed under a microscope to detect apoptosis. The number of apoptotic cells (strong blue staining) increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner as compared with that observed in the control group. Data represent the mean ± SD of three independent experiments (n = 3). Values with different letters (a–d) denote significant differences from one another (p < 0.05).