Salidroside alters p-Bad, Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, AIF and XIAP expression, and promotes caspase-3 activation. Western blotting was used to detect protein expression. Relative protein expression was normalized to β-actin. Caspase-3 activity was measured using a commercial assay kit. (A) Bax and Bcl-2 expression, (B) Bad and p-Bad expression, (C) caspase-3 activity, (D) AIF expression and (E) XIAP expression in SKOV3 cells treated with salidroside. (F) Bax and Bcl-2 expression, (G) Bad and p-Bad expression, (H) caspase-3 activity, (I) AIF expression and (J) XIAP expression in A2780 cells treated with salidroside. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean; n=3 independent experiments for each group. *P<0.05 vs. control. Bax, Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bad, Bcl-2-associated death promoter; AIF, apoptosis-inducing factor; XIAP, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis.