Matrine induces apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was performed to assess apoptosis. Annexin V-negative/PI-negative (lower left quadrant), Annexin V-positive/PI-negative (lower right quadrant), Annexin V-positive/PI-positive (upper right quadrant) and Annexin V-positive/PI-positive (upper left quadrant) cells were considered as the viable, early-phase apoptotic, late-phase apoptotic and necrosis cells, respectively. The percentage of cells is presented in each quadrant. (A) THP-1 cells. (B) Representative histograms of apoptosis of THP-1 cells induced by matrine are presented. *P<0.05 vs. 0 g/l matrine. The data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of at least three independent experiments. FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; PI, propidium iodide.