Qingjie Fuzheng granules inhibit colorectal cancer cell growth by the PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways

Figure 4 Effect of QFGs on the mitochondria-dependent and death receptor pathways in HCT-116 and HCT-8 cells. A: The cells were treated with or without QFGs (2 mg/mL) in combination with different caspase inhibitors (Z-DEVD-FMK, Z-IETD-FMK, Z-LEHD-FMK) for 24 h, and then cell viability was measured by MTT assay for each combination. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs the control group, ^cP < 0.01 vs the inhibitor group; B: Cells were treated with or without QFGs (2 mg/mL) in combination with different caspase inhibitors (Z-DEVD-FMK, Z-IETD-FMK, Z-LEHD-FMK) for 24 h, and then apoptosis in the HCT-116 and HCT-8 cells was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and visualized under a fluorescent microscope (200 ×). QFGs: Qingjie Fuzheng granules; Z-DEVD-FMK: Inhibitor of caspase-3; Z-IETD-FMK: Inhibitor of caspase-8; Z-LEHD-FMK: Inhibitor of caspase-9.