title: Antiangiogenic properties of Koetjapic acid, a natural triterpene isolated from Sandoricum koetjaoe Merr.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, has become an important target in cancer therapy. Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. Koetjapic acid (KA) is a seco-A-ring oleanene triterpene isolated from S. koetjape. The solvent extract of this plant species was shown previously to have strong antiangiogenic activity; however the active ingredient(s) that conferred the biological activity and the mode of action was not established. Given the high concentration of KA in S. koetjape, an attempt has been made in this study to investigate the antiangiogenic properties of KA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with 10-50 μg/ml KA resulted in dose dependent inhibition of new blood vessels growth in ex vivo rat aortic ring assay. KA was found to be non-cytotoxic against HUVECs with IC50 40.97 ± 0.37 μg/ml. KA inhibited major angiogenesis process steps, endothelial cell migration and differentiation as well as VEGF expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The non-cytotoxic compound, KA, may be a potent antiangiogenic agent; its activity may be attributed to inhibition of endothelial cells migration and differentiation as well VEGF suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Penang, Malaysia. aminmalikshah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zeyad D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Abdalrahim Fa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Aisha
authors.forename: Mohamed Bk
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ahamed
authors.forename: Zhari
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Khalid M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abu-Salah
authors.forename: Salman A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Alrokayan
authors.forename: Amin Malik Shah
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdul Majid