Angiogenic activity of beta-sitosterol in the ischaemia/reperfusion-damaged brain of Mongolian gerbil.
Aloe vera continues to be used for wound healing as a folk medicine. We previously reported that A. vera gel has angiogenic activity. In this study, we report upon the isolation of an angiogenic component beta-sitosterol from A. vera and examination of its effect upon damaged blood vessels of the Mongolian gerbil. In a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay, beta-sitosterol was found to have an angiogenic effect. It enhanced new vessel formation in gerbil brains damaged by ischaemia/reperfusion, especially in the cingulated cortex and septal regions, in a dose-dependent fashion (up to 500 microg/kg, p < 0.05, n = 34 - 40). beta-Sitosterol also enhanced the expressions of proteins related to angiogenesis, namely von Willebrand factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor Flk-1, and blood vessel matrix laminin (p < 0.05, n = 6). In addition, the intraperitoneal administration of beta-sitosterol at 500 microg/kg/day for a period of 19 days significantly improved the motion recovery of ischaemia/reperfusion-damaged gerbils as assessed by rota-rod testing (p < 0.001, n = 10). Our results suggest that beta-sitosterol has therapeutic angiogenic effects on damaged blood vessels.
Choi
Seongwon
S
Department of Pharmacology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Kyu-Won
KW
Choi
Jae-Sue
JS
Han
Sang-Taek
ST
Park
Young-In
YI
Lee
Seung-Ki
SK
Kim
Jeong-Soon
JS
Chung
Myung-Hee
MH
D000504:Aloe; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007797:Laminin; D008222:Lymphokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D012855:Sitosterols; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor