**3.1. Growth inhibitory effect of Artonin E on MCF-7 breast cancer cells**

Artonin E, at concentrations of 6.9, 5.10 and 3.77 μM induced a half maximal growth inhibitory effect on estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells (**Figure 1**) at 24, 48 and 72 h respectively.

**Figure 2.** Acridine orange/propidium iodide double staining of MCF-7 cells after 24 h exposure. (A) Control, (B) 3, (C) 10, (D) 30 μM Artonin E. VC = viable cells; BL = cell membrane blebbing; CC = chromatin condensation; EA = early apoptosis; LA = late apoptosis; MN arginated nuclear chromatin; SN secondary necrosis. Magnification: 200×.

Apoptosis-Inducing Effect of Artonin E in Breast Cancer http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79205 27

**Figure 3.** Quantification of early and late apoptotic MCF-7 cells after AO/PI double staining analysis. All values are

mean ± standard deviation. \*at each time point, means significantly different for control at p < 0.05.
