Ferula assafoetida induced colon cancer cells differentiation through JNK/MAPK signalling pathway activation

Figure 1 Cytotoxicity and chemical analysis of Ferula assafoetida. A: Cytotoxicity assay of the ethanol and water extract of Ferula assafoetida (F. assafoetida), and on Caco cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphe nyltetrazoliumbromide thiazolyl assay; B: The GC-MS chromatogram of the ethanolic extract of F. assafoetida. Data were obtained in 3 biological replicates. F. assafoetida: Ferula assafoetida.

Figure 2 Cell cycle analysis. A: Untreated control Caco cells; B: Caco cells treated with Na. butyrate; C and D: Caco cells treated with Ferula assafoetida (F. assafoetida). Apoptosis analysis (C) in Caco cells without treatment (D); E: Caco cells treated with Na. butyrate; F: Caco cells treated with F. assafoetida. The cell cycle analysis and apoptosis were detected with Cytell Cell Imaging system; G and H: Histogram charts showed the percentage of (G) live cells and (H) apoptotic cells in Caco cells. Data were obtained in 3 biological replicates. ^aP < 0.001, ^bP < 0.01.

Figure 3 DNA fragmentation assessment. A: Microscopic examination of untreated Caco cells; B: Those treated with Ferula assafoetida (F. assafoetida) showing the cytotoxic effect of F. assafoetida on the cells (magnification 20 ×); C: Electropherogram for DNA fragmentation of Caco cells treated with ethanol extracts of F. assafoetida at conc (1/4 IC₅₀, 1/2 IC₅₀, and the IC₅₀) μg/mL. M: DNA marker. Data were obtained in 3 biological replicates.

Figure 4 Effect of Ferula assafoetida on cellular oxidative stress. A: Total antioxidant; B and C: Glutathione reductase, and malondialdehyde concentrations in Caco cells treated with Ferula assafoetida (F. assafoetida), sodium butyrate against untreated control Caco cells; D: Alkaline phosphatase activity in Caco cells treated with F. assafoetida against untreated control Caco cells. Data were obtained in 3 biological replicates. ^aP < 0.001, ^bP < 0.01. MDA: Malondialdehyde; GSH: Glutathione reductase.

Figure 5 Relative expression of JNK and MAPK in Caco cells treated with Ferula assafoetida against control untreated cells. Data were obtained in 3 biological replicates.