ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of brucea javanica oil on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in A549 cell line.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A549 cells were incubated with different concentrations of brucea javanica oil (0.5, 1.25, 2.5, 5 g x L(-1) for 48 h respectively. VEGF level in supernatant was determined by VEGF ELISA kits and mRNA expression of VEGF was evaluated by RT-PCR. PMN in health volunteers was treated as control groups.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Supernatant VEGF protein and mRNA expression were significantly elevated in A549 cells compared with the mononuclear cells (120.73 vs 21.21, P < 0.05). Brucea javanica oil (2.5 g x L(-1)) could reduced supernatant VEGF protein in A549 cells (20.30 vs 120.73, P < 0.05), but had no effect on the expression of VEGF mRNA (1.0230 vs 0.9573). It was found that brucea javanica oil (5 g x L(-1)) significantly reduced VEGF mRNA expression (0.4682 vs 0.9573, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Brucea javanica oil can depress the VEGF mRNA expression and secretion in A549 cells, which may be one of the mechanisms of its antitumor effect.</p>
