Fig. 1

EECR induces apoptosis of TNBC cells with dose-dependent activity. CCK8 assay was used to test the cell viability of TNBC cells (a: MDA-MB-231cell line, b: MDA-MB-468 cell line). Contrasting with the control group, the cell viability of every group was exhibited in a percentage form and decreased linearly along with the addition of EECR concentrations (a, b). The Annexin V-FITC/PI assay was employed in attending to the test of apoptosis. Q1 quadrant represents necrotic cells, Q2 represents late apoptotic cells, Q3 represents early apoptotic cells, and Q4 represents normal cells. In MDA-MB-231 cell line, the sum of Q2 and Q3 was 1.73% in the control group, 10.39% in the 231–200 group, and 23.76% in the 231–400 group. In MDA-MB-468 cell line, the sum of Q2 and Q3 was 3.88% in the control group, 9.66% in the 468–400 group, and 25.16% in the 468–600 group