Antiangiogenic properties of viscum album extracts are associated with endothelial cytotoxicity.
BACKGROUND
Viscum album (VA) extracts are widely used in cancer therapy and are known to be cytotoxic to tumors and endothelial cells. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, sustenance and metastasis of tumors. Inhibition of angiogenesis is now being explored as a new therapeutic avenue for cancer.


METHODS
The cytotoxicity of VA extracts was analyzed by Annexin V labeling and propidium iodide uptake in EA-hy926 endothelial cells. The antiangiogenic effect was studied in vitro by treating the EA-hy926 cells in matrigel and subsequent analysis of vascular formation. Computer-assisted image analysis of vascular formation was analyzed to quantify the in vitro data. In vivo studies were performed by implanting matrigel +/- VA extracts in Balb/C mice that had been subjected to IP treatment with VA extracts.


RESULTS
The combination of systemic and intra- matrigel treatment with the VA Qu Spez extract caused significant inhibition of angiogenesis. The VA P extract treatment showed insignificant change in vessel formation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may provide novel guidelines towards improved strategies using VA extracts based on the inhibition of angiogenesis of tumors.
Elluru
Sri Ramulu
SR
INSERM UMRS 872, Equipe 16-Immunopathology and Therapeutic Intervention, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, 15 Rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, 75006 Paris, France.
Duong Van Huyen
Jean-Paul
JP
Delignat
Sandrine
S
Prost
Fabienne
F
Heudes
Didier
D
Kazatchkine
Michel D
MD
Friboulet
Alain
A
Kaveri
Srini V
SV
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D028182:Viscum album / Q000737:chemistry*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen