Biological inhibitory effects of the Chinese herb danggui on brain astrocytoma.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of the traditional Chinese herb danggui in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Our aim was to examine whether it might similarly be used to treat glioblastoma multiforme.


METHODS
The lipid-soluble active ingredients of danggui were extracted with acetone (AS-AC) or chlorophenol (AS-CH) and their antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects were studiedin vitro on cultured GBM 8401 cells and in vivoon tumors in nude mice.


RESULTS
After a 24-hour treatment, either AS-AC or AS-CH at a lower (50 micro g/ml) and a higher concentration (100 micro g/ml) significantly inhibited the proliferative activity of GBM 8401 cultured cells by 30-50%, as well as the expression of cathepsin B and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In nude mice, the growth of the tumor was inhibited by 30% by AS-CH or AS-AC (20 mg/kg; p < 0.05) and by 60% by AS-CH or AS-AC (60 mg/kg; p < 0.05). AS-AC and AS-CH also significantly inhibited microvessel formation in the tumors of nude mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Danggui may inhibit tumor growth by reducing the level of VEGF and the proapoptotic protein, cathepsin B. Thus, danggui may be useful in the treatment of high-grade astrocytomas.
Lee
Wei-Hwa
WH
Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Jin
Jong-Shiaw
JS
Tsai
Wen-Chiuan
WC
Chen
Yu-Ting
YT
Chang
Wen-Liang
WL
Yao
Chen-Wen
CW
Sheu
Lia-Fa
LF
Chen
Ann
A
D000328:Adult; D029971:Angelica sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005562:Formazans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005562:Formazans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C079782:MTT formazan; D002401:Cathepsin B