Cell viability assay
BMSCs were seeded in 96-well plates at a density of 5x103 cells/cm2 and cultured in control medium for 24 hours at 37˚C. Subsequently the medium was removed and cells were cultured in fresh control medium containing 0 (control group), 100, 200 and 400 µM CORM-3. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, 10 µl cell counting Kit-8 was added to each well and cells were incubated for a further 2 hours at 37˚C. Subsequently, absorbance at 450 nm was measured using SPECTROstar Nano ultraviolet spectrophotometer (Spectro Analytical Instruments GmbH, Kleve, Germany). The experiment was done in triplicate, and repeated for three times.