Figure 6

Echinacea -evoked depletion of Ca ²⁺ from intracellular stores induced Ca ²⁺ influx via SOCE in HEK293 cells. This response is pharmacologically similar to the Ca²⁺ influx evoked by thapsigargin. (A) Top: After depletion of Ca²⁺ stores by treating cells with 2 μM thapsigargin in Ca²⁺-free conditions for 10 min, 2 mM Ca²⁺ was added to assess SOCE; Bottom: Ten min after restoration of external Ca²⁺, 100 μM 2-APB was applied for 10 mins; (B) Top: After depletion of Ca²⁺ stores by treating cells with Echinacea extract (100 μg/ml) in Ca²⁺-free conditions for 10 min, 2 mM Ca²⁺ was added to assess SOCE; Bottom: Ten min after restoration of external Ca²⁺, 100 μM 2-APB was applied for 10 mins. Data shown are average traces of at least 20 cells in one experiment representative of three independent experiments.