Angiogenic effects of danshen and gegen decoction on human endothelial cells and zebrafish embryos
- Authors
- Hu, F., Chan, J.Y., Koon, C.M., and Fung, K.P.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-130816-16
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 41(4): 887-900 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- coronary artery diseases, DG decoction, migration, tube formation
- MeSH Terms
-
- Angiogenesis Inducing Agents/pharmacology*
- Animals
- Blood Vessels/drug effects
- Blood Vessels/embryology*
- Cell Line
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects*
- Endothelial Cells/drug effects*
- Humans
- Zebrafish
- PubMed
- 23895158 Full text @ Am. J. Chin. Med.
Coronary artery diseases (CAD) are the most common diseases worldwide. Despite improvements in standard heart surgeries, many patients still progress to advanced stages. Recent clinical trials have shown encouraging results that pro-angiogenic treatment improved heart function recovery. Danshen and Gegen have been widely used in treating heart diseases for thousands of years in China. Our previous findings showed that a Danshen and Gegen decoction in weight ratio of 7 to 3 (DG) had a potential vasodilation effect and provided cardiac protection in patients with atherosclerosis. In the present study, we examine the therapeutic potential of Danshen and Gegen decoction (DG) in CAD. A screening using a transgenic zebrafish embryo model was performed to check vessel sprouting. In addition, human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Our results revealed that DG enhanced the sprouting of sub-intestinal vessels (SIVs) of zebrafish embryos. Sprout intensity in the high concentration DG-treated group (500 μg/ml) was significantly higher than the control group. In vitro experiments showed that DG also induced HMEC-1 cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. In conclusion, DG possesses pro-angiogenic properties by inducing endothelial cell activation, which may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of CAD.