ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the antiangiogenic activity of fenugreek. Methods Different fractions of fenugreek crude extracts were prepared and their antiangiogenic properties were assessed using the ex vivo rat aortic ring assay and in vivo chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. They were investigated for their direct cytotoxic activity in the MCF7 cells using the MTT assay. Results The ethanol extract showed 100% inhibition of blood vessel outgrowth from primary tissue explants in the rat aortic ring assay at a concentration of 100 μg/mL while the other extracts did not show significant antiangiogenic activity. The ethanol extract was therefore investigated at varying concentrations and exhibited a significant dose dependent effect. The CAM assay coincided with the results of the aortic ring assay as ethanol extract showed a significant inhibition of formation of new blood vessels. The extracts only showed anti-proliferative activity at the highest concentration of 400 μg/mL towards MCF7 breast cancer cell lines in the MTT assay. Conclusions Findings of the both assays confirmed that the ethanol extract inhibited vascularization significantly. Further studies on the ethanol extract would be beneficial in isolating the active ingredient responsible for the inhibition.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the antiangiogenic activity of fenugreek. Methods: Different fractions of fenugreek crude extracts were prepared and their anti-angiogenic properties were assessed using the ex vivo rat aortic ring assay and in vivo chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. They were investigated for their direct cytotoxic activity in the MCF7 cells using the MTT assay. Results: The ethanol extract showed 100％ inhibition of blood vessel outgrowth from primary tissue explants in the rat aortic ring assay at a concentration of 100μg/mL while the other extracts did not show significant antiangiogenic activity. The ethanol extract was therefore investigated at varying concentrations and exhibited a significant dose dependent effect. The CAM assay coincided with the results of the aortic ring assay as ethanol extract showed a significant inhibition of formation of new blood vessels. The extracts only showed anti-proliferative activity at the highest concentration of 400μg/mL towards MCF7 breast cancer cell lines in the MTT assay. Conclusions: Findings of the both assays confirmed that the ethanol extract inhibited vascularization significantly. Further studies on the ethanol extract would be beneficial in isolating the active ingredient responsible for the inhibition.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects of ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate isolated from Kaempferia galanga. METHODS: The anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate were assessed using the cotton pellet granuloma assay in rats, whereby the levels of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured in the animals' blood. In addition, the levels of interleukin, tumor necrosis factor, and nitric oxide were measured in vitro using the human macrophage cell line (U937). The analgesic effects of ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate were assessed by the tail flick assay in rats. The anti-angiogenic effects were evaluated first by the rat aortic ring assay and, subsequently, by assessing the inhibitory effects of ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate on vascular endothelial growth factor, proliferation, migration, and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. RESULTS: Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate strongly inhibited granuloma tissue formation in rats. It prolonged the tail flick time in rats by more than two-fold compared with the control animals. The inhibition of interleukin and tumor necrosis factor by ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate was significant in both in vivo and in vitro models; however, only a moderate inhibition of nitric oxide was observed in macrophages. Furthermore, ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate considerably inhibited microvessel sprouting from the rat aorta. These mechanistic studies showed that ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate strongly inhibited the differentiation and migration of endothelial cells, which was further confirmed by the reduced level of vascular endothelial growth factor. CONCLUSION: Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate exhibits significant anti-inflammatory potential by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenesis, thus inhibiting the main functions of endothelial cells. Thus, ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate could be a promising therapeutic agent ...