Inhibitory effects of emodin on angiogenesis
Wang, X-hua.; Wu, S-ying.; Zhen, Y-su.
Yao Xue Xue Bao 39(4): 254-258
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0513-4870 PMID: 15303652 Document Number: 583405
To determine the anti-angiogenic activity of emodin, a major active constituent extracted from traditional medicine Rheum palmatum, chick embryo assay and cultured endothelial cells were used. Emodin at 150 and 300 micro g/egg caused 37.6 and 63.2% inhibition of angiogenesis, respectively. Emodin inhibited the proliferation of primary cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells in the absence or presence of basic-fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 values by MTT assay were 5.56, 8.40 or 6.91 mg litre-1, respectively. Emodin at 5.4-21.6 mg litre-1 induced apoptosis of endothelial cells by 37.6-72.6%. Emodin caused endothelial cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. After emodin treatment, there was a down-regulation of Cyclin B1, P34cdc2, and Bcl-2 protein expression while the Bax protein expression was unaffected. It is concluded that emodin has anti-angiogenic activity and might be useful for the development of novel anti-cancer therapy.