Fig. 1

Effect of MT and N-MT on cell viability. A, B Huh-7 cells were treated with MT and N-MT and their viability was examined by MTT assay after 24h and 48h. C, D HepG2 cells were treated with MT and N-MT and their viability was examined by MTT assay after 24h and 48h. E HDF cells were treated with N-MT and their viability was examined by MTT assay after 24h and 48h. N-MT induces apoptosis in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, while the effect of MT extract on the induction of apoptosis in these cells is much lower than that of N-MT. N-MT has no impact on normal cells (fibroblasts) as well. ∗ P < 0.05, ∗  ∗ P < 0.01, ∗  ∗  ∗ P < 0.001, ∗  ∗  ∗  ∗ P < 0.0001