Arctigenin attenuates paraquat-induced human lung epithelial A549 cell injury by suppressing ROS/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases-mediated apoptosis

Chao Liu, Zhao-rui Sun, Meng-meng Wang, Zhi-zhou Yang, Wei Zhang, Yi Ren, Xiao-qin Han, Rui Liu, Quan Li, Shi-nan Nie

Figure 1. Arctigenin ameliorated paraquat (PQ)-induced A549 cell injury. A: PQ inhibited the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner, reflected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay (n=3, *P<0.05 vs. control); B: no dramatic effect of arctigenin was observed on the cell viability of A549 cells under control conditions, indicated by CCK-8 assay (n=3); C: the bar graph indicated arctigenin ameliorated PQ-induced A549 cell injury in a dose-dependent manner, determined by CCK-8 assay (n=3, *P<0.05 vs. PQ); D: representative light microscopy images indicated arctigenin ameliorated PQ-induced A549 cell injury, as reflected by more shrunken cells (scale bar=50 μm).