Mitochondrial pathway mediated by reactive oxygen species involvement in α-hederin-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Figure 2 BSO and NAC influence the α-hederin-induced apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. SMMC-7721 cells were incubated with α-hederin (10 μmol/L) with or without BSO (2 mmol/L) or NAC (5 mmol/L) pretreatment. A: Cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining; B: ROS levels in SMMC-7721 cells; C and D: Effect of α-hederin on intracellular GSH and ATP levels. ^aP < 0.05 vs control; ^cP < 0.05 vs α-hederin (10 μmol/L). ATP: adenosine triphosphate; BSO: DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine; GSH: Glutathione; NAC: N-acetylcysteine.