MA is a novel SIRT3 activator that induces MCF-7 cell autophagy in vivo. (A) Tumor volume and (B) body weight of WT and MA-treated tumor tissue; the MA-treated group shared the same control (WT) with the MCF7shSF3B3 group (n = 10). (C)–(G) The expression of Ki-67, ac-MnSOD2 (K68), ac-MnSOD2 (K122), SQSTM1/P62 and LC3 determined by immunohistochemistry in representative tumor sections of mice after MA treatment. Scale bar = 40 μm. Relative expressions of Ki-67, ac-MnSOD2 (K68), ac-MnSOD2 (K122), SQSTM1/P62 and LC3 were quantified by normalization to the WT group; ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗P < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001. (H) Western blot analysis of the expressions of ac-MnSOD2 (K68), ac-MnSOD2 (K122), ATG4B, ATG5, beclin-1, SQSTM1/P62 and LC3. The relative expressions of ac-MnSOD2 (K68), ac-MnSOD2 (K122), ATG5, beclin-1, SQSTM1/P62 and LC3 II were quantified by normalization to β-actin expression. ns, no significance; ∗P < 0.05.