Fig. 2

FZKA enhances the effect of Gefitinib-induced lung cancer cell apoptosis. a, b Cell apoptosis was the most induced in the combination group when treated with FZKA together with Gefitinib. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) when treated with 1 mg/mL FZKA, 10 μM Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib for 24 h, respectively. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.0001; one-way ANOVA. Data represent mean ± SD of three independent experiments. c Caspase-3 activity was the most increased in the combined group treated with FZKA together with Gefitinib. Caspase-3 activity assay was carried out in the lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) treated with FKZA, Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib for 24 h, respectively. ***p < 0.0001; one-way ANOVA. Data represent mean ± SD of three independent experiments. d Cleaved Caspase-3 was the most increased in the combined group treated with FZKA and Gefitinib. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of cleaved Caspase-3 in lung cancer cells (A549 and PC9) treated with FKZA, Gefitinib, or FZKA combined with Gefitinib for 24 h, respectively. GAPDH was used as a loading control. Densitometric analysis was performed using ImageJ