Apoptosis Induced by Artesunate in Human Adenocarcinoma Cell Line A549 Cells Associated with Activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3

Objective To investigate the effects of artesunate on apoptosis of human adenocarcinoma cell line A549 cells and activation of cysteine containing aspartate 9(caspase-9) and cysteine containing aspartate 3(caspase-3). Methods A549 cells were treated with artesunate, cell cycle phase's distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Activation of caspase-9 was identified by colorimetric assay. Change of caspase-3 was detected by western blot. Results With artesunate treatment, marked cell accumul...