Fig. 5.

Hibiscus extract induces oxidative stress on breast cancer and enhances chemotherapeutic oxidative stress induction. a MDA-MB-231 (left) MCF-7 (right) breast cancer cells were treated with chemotherapeutics taxol and cisplatin individually and in combination with 1 mg/mL HE and assessed at 3 h post-treatment against a positive control of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Results were obtained using image-based cytometry to assess the percentage of cells positive with fluorescence associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (H₂DCFDA, fluoresces green). Values are expressed as a mean ± SD from three independent experiments. b Fluorescence microscopy images of individual and hibiscus combination chemotherapeutic treatments on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were taken at 3 h.. Left image in groupings: Fluorescent images stained with H₂DCFDA (green) and Hoechst (blue) at 400× magnification. Right image in groupings: Fluorescent images stained with H₂DCFDA (green) alone. Images are representative of three independent experiments. Statistical calculations were performed using Two-Way ANOVA multiple comparison. *p < 0.05 vs. Control, **p < 0.01 vs. Control, ****p < 0.0001 vs. Control, @p < 0.05 vs. Individual Chemotherapy Treatment