Fig. 1

Growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects esculetin. A Proliferation kinetics of Kasumi-1 cells treated/untreated with esculetin. The cells were treated with different concentrations of esculetin (25,50,100,200,500 µM) and counted at indicated time intervals. DMSO treated cells served as controls. Representative data of three independent experiments were plotted. B Cell viability was determined using MTT assay. Cells were treated with DMSO alone (Vehicle Control/VC) or with increasing concentrations of esculetin upto 72 h and analysed for survival using MTT assay. Relative cell survival to DMSO treated cells is shown. C Cell cycle distribution analysis of Kasumi-1 cells in presence or absence of esculetin (100 μM) and VC at mentioned time intervals using flow cytometer. The relative DNA content of PI-stained cells shows cells at different phases of the cell cycle. D Representative dot plot analysis of esculetin mediated apoptosis based on Annexin V and propedium iodide (PI) staining. Annexin V positive cells were considered to undergo early apoptosis, and Annexin V + PI positive cells as late apoptotic cells. Percentage cell population in each quardant and relative apoptosis in bar graph (right panel) are combined from three independent experiments. (*p ≤ 0.05; **p ≤ 0.02)