Fig. 6: Dihydroartemisinin reduces Ki-67 expression and induces apoptosis in CRC, both in vitro and in vivo.

Immunohistochemistry staining showing the expressions of Ki67 in the tumors of the (A) xenograft mouse models and (B) orthotopic mouse models after dihydroartemisinin (DHA) treatments at the indicated doses. C, D Percentages of apoptotic cells after dihydroartemisinin (DHA) treatments at the indicated concentrations. The data are shown as means ± SEM. n = 3 independent experiments, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared with control. E Western blot showing the expressions of cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved PARP in the CRC cells after dihydroartemisinin (DHA) treatments at the indicated concentrations. F Western blot showing the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP in the xenograft tissues of the DLD-1-bearing xenograft mouse models after dihydroartemisinin (DHA) treatment at the indicated doses.