Vorster, C.J.J. (Christiaan Jacob Johan)Stander, AndreJoubert, Annie M.2013-04-192013-04-192012-03Vorster, C, Stander, A & Joubert, A 2012, 'Differential signaling involved in Sutherlandia frutescens-induced cell death in MCF-7 and MCF-12A cells', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 140, no. 1, pp.123-130.0378-8741 (print)1872-7573 (online)10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.045http://hdl.handle.net/2263/21329Ethnopharmacological relevance: The scientific study of natural products traditionally used in anticancer preparations has yielded several therapeutically relevant compounds. One of these traditional preparations with potentially beneficial properties is aqueous extracts of Sutherlandia frutescens, a shrub indigenous to the Western Cape region of South Africa. Aims of the study: To evaluate in vitro efficacy of these preparations on the MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma and MCF-12A non-tumorigenic cell lines in terms of cell proliferation, cell morphology and possible induction of cell death. Materials and Methods: Crystal violet staining was used to evaluate cell proliferation, lightand fluorescence microscopy were used to investigate both intracellular and extracellular morphological features of apoptosis and autophagy (e.g. membrane blebbing, condensed chromatin and intracellular lysosomes), while flow cytometry quantified cell cycle changes and induction of apoptosis through analysis of the flip-flop translocation of phosphatidylserine.en© 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 140, issue 1, 2012, DOI. : 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.045Sutherlandia frutescensCytotoxicityCancerEthnopharmacologyApoptosisAutophagyPostprint Article