Medicinal Plants Extracts with Antiangiogenic Activity: Where Is the Link?

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a strictly controlled process defined as the formation of new blood vessels essential for certain physiologic and pathologic conditions where the latter includes tumor growth, development, and metastasis. Thus, inhibiting angiogenesis along with other anticancer strategies such as chemotherapy seems to be invaluable for reaching an optimal outcome in cancer patients. It has been shown that some natural plant-derived compounds are capable of preventing the formation of these new blood vessels in the tumor and also inhibit the proliferation and growth of the cancer cells. In this review, we intend to introduce plants with anti-angiogenic properties and discuss their related features.

Clinical effects of curcumin in enhancing cancer therapy: A systematic review

“…Furthermore, the activation of genes such as insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), transforming growth factor a (TGF-a) and MAPK and PI3K signalling pathway will also enable the survival, proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells [ 63 ]. HIF -1 by activating genes involved in angiogenesis and also activates signalling pathways associated with cell survival and proliferation plays an important role in the stability and growth of tumors [ 64 ]. As above mentioned HIF 1 α is a potent activator of angiogenesis, and curcumin inhibits its expression.…”

“…Angiogenesis means the formation of new blood vessels, which is generally a major step in tumor survival and growth. Curcumin inhibits cancer in various organs [ 61 – 64 , 73 ].…”

“…Angiogenesis means the formation of new blood vessels, which is generally a major step in tumor survival and growth. Curcumin inhibits cancer in various organs [61][62][63][64]73]. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been proven in many studies.…”

A Perspective on Withania somnifera Modulating Antitumor Immunity in Targeting Prostate Cancer

“…However, the phase III results of antiangiogenic treatment in prostate cancer showed toxicity without improving the overall survival [ 36 ]. Plant-based compounds are efficient in preventing the formation of new blood vessels in the tumor microenvironment; hence, several natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, and thymoquinone have been studied as potential antiangiogenic drugs [ 37 – 40 ]. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), WFA showed an antiangiogenic effect by inhibiting HUVEC sprouting in the three-dimensional collagen-I matrix [ 41 ].…”

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“…Plants with anti-angiogenic properties are of considerable significance for diseases like cancer and diabetic retinopathy. Angiogenic and antiangiogenic activities of plants can be evaluated using both in-vitro and in-vivo assays 21 . As a part of this search for natural product-based antiangiogenic agents, in the present study, we sought to explore the influence of Majorana hortensis leaves on angiogenesis and cell invasion using chick embryo fibroblasts and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines in the presence and absence of the standard chemotherapeutic agent etoposide.…”