Resveratrol promotes the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. (A) HeLa cells were treated with the vehicle (DMEM medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, and containing 1/2,500 volume of ethanol) or resveratrol at various concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40 µM) for 24 h. Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. (B) BCL-2, BCL-xL and BAX mRNA levels in HeLa cells treated with resveratrol or the vehicle were determined by RT-qPCR. (C) BCL-2 and BAX protein levels in HeLa cells treated with resveratrol (10, 20 and 40 µM) or the vehicle for 24 h were determined by western blot analysis. (D) BCL-2, BCL-xL and BAX mRNA levels in Ca Ski cells treated with resveratrol (50 µM) or the vehicle (DMEM medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, and containing 1/2,500 volume of ethanol) for 24 h were determined by RT-qPCR. (E) BCL-2 and BAX protein levels in Ca Ski cells treated with resveratrol (50 µM) or the vehicle for 24 h were determined by western blot analysis. Data are presented as the means ± SD. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, compared with the vehicle control.