FKC induces apoptosis in HCT 116 cells.

<p>(A) HCT 116 cells were treated with FKC at the indicated concentrations for 48 hours, and subsequently observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope at magnification of 40× (Scale bar = 1μm). Control cells showing normal morphology (well spread and normal nuclei structure) while treated cells showing the typical morphological features of apoptosis include cell shrinkage, condensed or fragmented nuclei, membrane blebbing, vacuole formation and detachment of apoptotic bodies. (B) Representative fluorescence microscopy images of HCT 116 cells stained with Hoechst 34222 and PI after treated without or with the indicated concentrations of FKC for 48 hours and visualized using fluorescence microscope at magnification of 40× (Scale bar = 50μm). Arrows labelled with the following number and letter indicates: (1) viable cells with normal nuclei; (2) early apoptotic cells with highly condensed chromatin or fragmented chromatin (b); (3) late apoptotic cells with highly condensed chromatin or fragmented chromatin; (4) dead cells/necrosis. Untreated cells in 0.5% DMSO served as the control in (A) and (B).