title: An ex-vivo angiogenesis assay as a screening method for natural compounds and herbal drug preparations.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Slávka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baróniková
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apers
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanden Berghe
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cos
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Daele
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Marck
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlietinck
mesh_terms: D031319:Aesculus; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D031658:Olea; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014230:Triazoles / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014230:Triazoles; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C062058:carboxyamido-triazole