CASP9 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Cells were pretreated with caspase-9-specific inhibitor (z-LEHD-fmk) and then exposed to SLE or diosgenin, the result showed that there is a significant decrease in caspase-9 activity (Figure 5(a)) and an increase in cell viability (Figure 5(b)) in comparison to SLE or diosgenin treatments alone cells.