Fig. 3

PlasDIC images of HeLa cells demonstrating the morphological changes induced by ESE-16. a and b Cells propagated in growth medium (a) and vehicle-treated control cells (b) were confluent, with majority of cells in interphase. c ESE-16-treated cells: several cells are blocked in metaphase and there are visible apoptotic characteristics such as shrunken cells and apoptotic bodies. d Hallmarks of apoptosis were observed in the positive control cells, which were exposed to actinomycin D (20× magnification)