Bufotalin-induced apoptosis in osteoblastoma cells is associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress activation.

•Bufotalin induces ER stress activation and is cytotoxic against osteoblastoma cells.•Caspase-12 activation is important for bufotalin-induced osteoblastoma cell apoptosis.•ER stress inhibitor salubrinal reduces bufotalin-induced osteoblastoma cell apoptosis.•CHOP silencing suppresses bufotalin-induced osteoblastoma cell apoptosis.•Bufotalin inhibits U2OS cell growth in mice xenograft model.