Abstract
mechanisms. The effects of root acetone extract of Rubus fairholmianus (RFRA) on the proliferation of human colorectal cancer
(Caco-2) cells have been investigated in this study. The extract led to a dose dependent decrease in both viability and proliferation
and increased cytotoxicity using trypan blue exclusion, adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay.
The morphological features of the treated cells were supportive for the antiproliferative activity. The Annexin V/propidium iodide
staining indicated that R. fairholmianus induced toxic effects in Caco-2 cells and the percentages of the early and late apoptotic
population significantly increased when compared with control cells. Also we studied the apoptosis inducing ability of the extract
by analysing caspase 3/7 activity and the induction of cell death via the effector caspases was confirmed; the activity increased
in treated cells compared with control.Thus the present findings highlight that the R. fairholmianus root acetone extract exhibits
antiproliferative activity on Caco-2 cells by the induction of apoptosis via caspase dependent pathway.