Figure 3.

Baicalein Activated the Caspase-3-Mediated Apoptosis Pathway in the HCT-116 Cell Line

(A) Cells were treated with 20 μM CQ only (pre-treatment for 4 h), 50–100 μM baicalein only, or CQ + baicalein combination for 48 and 72 h. Cell pellets were collected, and western blot analysis was performed. For the apoptosis pathway, pro-caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 antibodies were applied. β-actin was used as a loading control. (B) Cells (1 × 10⁴/well) were seeded into 96-well tissue culture plates and then treated with baicalein (50 and 100 μM) or in combination with 20 μM CQ for 24 h. Caspase-3 and -7 activity was measured by the caspase-Glo 3/7 assay (Promega). Results from one representative experiment are presented as means ± SD, with triplicate determinations. ∗p < 0.05; ∗∗p < 0.01; ∗∗∗p < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.