Cepharanthine (Ce) is a biscoclaurine alkaloid extracted from Stephania cepharantha Hayata. In our previous study, Ce significantly enhanced thermosensitivity and thereby reduced thermotolerance in vitro, and intra-peritoneal injection of Ce slightly enhanced thermosensitivity in vivo. In the present study, we investigated Ce's effect in vitro on the pattern of cell death after heating and the effect of intra-tumoral injection of Ce on in vivo thermosensitivity using a mouse fibrosarcoma, FSa-II, and C3H/He mice. Ce significantly enhanced the in vitro thermosensitivity of FSa-II cells with heating at 44 degrees C, with increased Ce concentration. Time-lapse microscopic observation of individual cells confirmed that Ce treatment hastened both apoptosis (specifically, apoptotic budding) and necrosis (as indicated by staining with propidium iodide).
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