TQ- and DG- induce apoptosis in A431 and Hep2 cells.

<p>(A) Dose-dependent effects of TQ and DG detected by cell cycle–based apoptosis assay. Cells were treated with respective IC₅₀ of TQ or DG for 48 hours, stained with PI and measured by flow cytometry. (B) Accumulation of sub-G₁ cells plotted from the cell cycle–based apoptosis assay. Data are presented as means ± SEM from three independent experiments. Dissimilar superscripts (a, b, c, d) represent the significant differences among them (<i>P</i><0.05). (C) After treating with IC₅₀ of TQ or DG, cells were stained with Annexin V-FITC and PI and analysed by fluorescence microscopy. Three primary populations of cells: cells are viable and not undergoing apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC and PI negative), cells undergoing apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC positive and PI negative) and cells in end-stage apoptosis or already dead (Annexin V-FITC and PI positive).