Differential control of growth, apoptotic activity and gene expression in human colon cancer cells by extracts derived from medicinal herbs, Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale and their combination

Figure 2 Photomicrographs showing crude alkaloid and/or flavonoid treatments induced morphologic features of apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Cell were treated for 48 h with indicated concentrations of crude alkaloid extract of R. stricta (CAERS) and/or crude flavonoid extract of Z. officinale (CFEZO) and observed with A: Light microscopy (first row: magnification × 20; second row: magnification × 40; third row: magnification × 63); B: Electron microscopy of toluidine blue-stained semithin sections (magnification: × 100); and C: Scanning electron microscopy (magnification: × 25026). Note deformed morphology of treated cells, blebbing of cellular membrane, granular surface and fragmentation of cells into apoptotic bodies.