Ethanol extract of <it>Gleditsia sinensis</it> thorn suppresses angiogenesis <it>in vitro</it> and <it>in vivo</it>

• Main Authors: Yi Jin-Mu (Author), Park Jong-Shik (Author), Oh Se-Mi (Author), Lee Jun (Author), Kim Jinhee (Author), Oh Dal-Seok (Author), Bang Ok-Sun (Author), Kim No Soo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2012-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-243; 1472-6882
• Keywords: <it>Gleditsia sinensis</it> thorn; Antiangiogenesis; Anticancer; Gene expression; Medicinal herb; Other systems of medicine; RZ201-999
• Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 243 (2012)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Gleditsia sinensis</it> thorns have been widely used in traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of several diseases, including obesity, thrombosis, and tumor-related diseases. The aim of the study is to determine the antiangiogenic effect of <it>Gleditsia sinensis</it> thorns <it>in vitro</it> and <it>in vivo</it> in a bid to evaluate its potential as an anticancer drug.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ethanol extract of <it>Gleditsia sinensis</it> thorns (EEGS) were prepared and used for <it>in vitro</it> and <it>in vivo</it> assays. <it>In vitro</it> antiangiogenic effect of EEGS was determined in HUVEC primary cells by cell migration and tube formation assays. <it>In vivo</it> antiangiogenic effect of EEGS was determined by measuring vessel formation and vascular endothelial cells migrating into the implanted matrigels in nude mice. The angiogenesis-related proteins of which expression levels were altered by EEGS were identified by proteomic analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EEGS exerted a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on HUVEC cells without significant cytotoxicity. Angiogenic properties, such as cell migration and tube formation, were significantly inhibited by EEGS in a dose-dependent manner. New vessel formation was also suppressed by EEGS, as determined by the directed <it>in vivo</it> angiogenesis assays in nude mice. EEGS reduced the expression of proangiogenic proteins, endothelin 1 and matrix metallopeptidase 2, in HUVEC cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that EEGS can inhibit angiogenesis by down-regulating proangiogenic proteins, and therefore it should be considered as a potential anticancer drug targeting tumor-derived angiogenesis.</p>