The in vivo and in vitro angiogenic evaluation of the essential oil of Echinophora tournefortii

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels occuring in embryo growth and wound healing. It has a vital role in certain pathologies like chronic inflammation and cancer. The antiangiogenic approach as a new advance and target to treat or prevent such pathologies looks very promising (1). In this study, the essential oil from the aerial parts of Echinophora tournefortii Jaub.& Spach. was investigated for its in vivo and in vitro angiogenic/antiangiogenic properties to support its use for wound healing in folk medicine. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, which was analyzed both by GC and GC-MS. The main constituents of the oil were identified as myrcene (29%) and α-pinene (28%). Using the in vivo Chorio Allantoic Membrane (CAM) assay and in vitro toxicity (MTT), cell migration and tube formation tests (HUV-EC-C cell lines) the oil and its main constituent myrcene were tested at various concentrations. Cortisone, suramin, sodium dodecyl sulphate and thalidomide were used as standards in both assays. The oil showed a weak antiangiogenic effect with slight irritation in vivo and antiangiogenic activity in a dose dependent manner in vitro. It did not show embryotoxicity in vivo but cytotoxicity in vitro. Myrcene showed a weak antiangiogenic effect in vivo as well as a wound healing effect in a dose dependent manner but no antiangiogenic activity in vitro.

Acknowledgements: This work was financially supported by TUBITAK Project No: SBAG-107S262

References: 1. Paper, D., Natural products as angiogenesis inhibitors, Planta Med., 64, 686–695 (1998).