PMC

Observations on morphological changes and apoptosis induction in HeLa cells treated with different concentrations (0, 1 and 100 µg/ml) of total spiderling extract. (A) Morphology of HeLa cells incubated with the extract at different concentrations. (B) HeLa cells were incubated with the extract and their nuclei were visualized by Hoechst 33342 staining and fluorescence microscopy.

Observations on morphological changes and apoptosis induction in HeLa cells treated with different concentrations (0, 1 and 100 µg/ml) of the low molecular mass fraction from the spiderling total extract. (A) Morphology of HeLa cells incubated with the fraction at different concentrations. (B) HeLa cells were incubated with the fraction and their nuclei were visualized by Hoechst 33342 staining and fluorescence microscopy.

Effect of spiderling total extract on caspase 3 activity in HeLa cells. Following incubation of HeLa cells with different concentrations of the extract (0, 10, 50, 100, 150 and 200 µg/ml), caspase 3 activity in HeLa cells was measured using a commercially available caspase 3 assay kit according to the manufacturer's protocol. Relative activity of the caspase 3 to convert its substrate was expressed as enzyme unit per µg protein. **P<0.01 vs. control.

The length of the ventral margin of the tibia was measured as a proxy for body size.