The effect of withaferin A on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. An electron-microscope study

Cultures of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were treated with withaferin A and examined by an electron microscope. The compound was found to affect the spindle microtubules of cells in metaphase. There were no intact pole-to-pole microtubules or pole-to-kinetochore microtubules found in the treated cells; the centrioles were located in the center. Furthermore, cells at interphase were also affected, the membrane system of the cells being damaged.