Positive Health Online

Abstract

WARTENBERG and colleagues, Department of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, have shown that in cultured cells tumour-induced angiogenesis is inhibited by plant ingredients used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Background

The formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is a prerequisite for excessive tumour growth. New blood vessels can only invade the tumour tissue after the extracellular protein scaffolding, the extracellular matrix, has been degraded by proteolytic enzymes called metalloproteinases (MMPs). It has therefore been suggested that if these MMPs were inactivated, the growth of solid tumours would be inhibited. In this study, antioxidant plant ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicines have been investigated for their capacity to inhibit MMPs.

Methodology

The cells used were co-cultures of embryoid bodies and multicellular prostate tumour cell aggregates. The embryoid bodies transiently secreted MMPs. The secretion of MMPs was measured in the presence and absence of antioxidant ingredients, and also the formation of new blood vessels in the tumour cells.

Results

When the two cell types were cultured together, the secretion of MMPs was increased. This was due to reactive oxygen species produced by the tumour cells, and it was totally abolished by the reactive oxygen scavenger, Vitamin E. Incubation of the embyoid bodies with baicalein, epicatechin, berberine, and acetoside, all herbal ingredients used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, significantly inhibited angiogenesis in tumour cells and decreased intracellular reactive oxygen levels. Tumour-induced angiogenesis in the tumour cells was totally inhibited by vitamin E.

Conclusion

The Chinese herbal ingredients tested show indeed a capacity to inhibit the growth of solid tumours. It is concluded that the production of MMPs necessary for new blood vessels to invade the tumour tissue is triggered by reactive oxygen species generated by the tumour.

References

Wartenberg M, Budde P, De Marees M, Gruenheck F, Tsang SY, Huang Y, Chen ZY, Hescheler J, Sauer H. Inhibition of tumour-induced angiogenesis and matrix-metalloproteinase expression in confrontation cultures of embryoid bodies and tumour spheroids by plant ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine. Laboratory Investigation 83 (1): 87-98, Jan 2003.