Background: Phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids have been isolated from many species of Vincetoxicum. These alkaloids show promising anti-cancer activity and are a current topic of interest. Objectives: The inhibition of cell viability by different extracts of V. pumilum was measured in vitro in HL-60 and K562 human leukemic cancer cell lines and in freshly-isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes as a normal cell line. Materials and Methods: Using resazurin staining, cell viability was measured. In addition, the presence of apoptotic cells was determined using propidium iodide (PI) staining of DNA fragments (sub-G1 peak). Employing western blot analysis, levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and PARP cleavage were measured. Results: The CH2Cl2 fraction of V. pumilum showed a potent dose-related inhibitory effect on cell viability. The CH2Cl2 fraction showed
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