Planta Med 2004; 70(10): 887-892
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832611
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

An ex-vivo Angiogenesis Assay as a Screening Method for Natural Compounds and Herbal Drug Preparations

Slávka Baróniková1 , Sandra Apers1 , Dirk Vanden Berghe1 , Paul Cos1 , Peter Vermeulen2 , 3 , André Van Daele2 , Luc Pieters1 , Eric Van Marck2 , Arnold Vlietinck1
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  • 2Department of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  • 3Pathology, General Hospital Sint-Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 29, 2004

Accepted: July 20, 2004

Publication Date:
18 October 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Angiogenesis is a fundamental component of complex biological processes, including oncogenesis. The aim of this work was to optimise and validate an ex-vivo angiogenesis assay as a quantitative (PC image) biological method for testing promising natural compounds and herbal drug preparations for their pro-/anti-angiogenic activity. The bioassay is based on the principle of wound healing and quantifies the effect of angiogenic agents on neovessel outgrowth of human placental vessels embedded in a three-dimensional fibrin matrix. The assay was validated by using known, well characterised pro- and anti-angiogenic effectors (basic fibroblast growth factor and carboxyamidotriazole, respectively), and an angiogenesis inhibitor of plant origin (green tea leaves extract) was used as a reference product to demonstrate the applicability of the assay for plant extracts. Other standardised plant extracts prepared from olive tree leaves and horse chestnut seeds were tested for their angiogenic potential, but showed only slight inhibitory or no activity, respectively. The results presented here indicate that this human ex-vivo angiogenic assay is ”ready to use” for screening of herbal drug preparations and pure compounds.

References

Prof. Dr. Arnold Vlietinck

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Antwerp

Universiteitsplein 1

2610 Antwerp

Belgium

Fax: +32 3 820 27 09

Email: Arnold.vlietinck@ua.ac.be