Rhein Elicits In Vitro Cytotoxicity in Primary Human Liver HL-7702 Cells by Inducing Apoptosis through Mitochondria-Mediated Pathway

Figure 7

Rhein-induced oxidative stress in HL-7702 cells. (a) The cells were pretreated without or with 5 mM NAC for 1 h and then treated with rhein for 12 h. The generation of ROS was measured fluorometrically by using the fluorescent dye DFC-DA. The intracellular ROS production significantly increased after 50 μM rhein and 100 μM rhein. NAC was significantly effective in preventing ROS production in response to rhein (100 μM). Data are expressed as mean ± SD from three independent experiments. , versus control; compared to rhein (100 μM). (b) Cells exposed for 12 h to rhein were used to analyze colorimetrically the oxidative deterioration of lipids to certain extend. The intracellular lipid peroxidation activity significantly increased after 50 μM and 100 μM rhein exposure. Data were expressed as mean ± SD from three different experiments, , , significantly different from control values.

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