A) The photomicrographs depict the images of PC3 cells with Hoechst 33258 stain taken at 6 and 12 hours after treatment.

<p>The cells treated with SSG revealed clear signs of proapoptosis. The cells treated with 0.1% DMSO (Vehicle) showed prompt and evenly distributed nucleus with fully extended pseudopodial like projections of cell membrane. Whereas, the cells treated with SSG (10 µM) displayed blebbing of cellular membrane and the typical apoptotic changes in the chromatin structure. The arrows indicate the clear signs of nuclear condensation including the half moon (crescent) shaped apoptotic nuclei. The arrowheads indicate the chromatin dissolution, breakdown and fragmentation. The standard reference, betulinic acid also showed the similar induction of apoptosis in the cells. B) Graphical representation of percentage of apoptotic indices. The apoptotic index for each test group was expressed as a percentage of the ratio of apoptotic cells number to the total cell number in 10 different fields. Values are presented as mean ± SD (<i>n</i> = 10), * represents p<0.05 and ** represents p<0.01.