Evaluation of Anti-angiogenic Activity of Iraqi Mesembryanthemum cordifolium using rat aorta ring assay

Abstract

New blood vessels are produced during angiogenesis, which is necessary in both normal and abnormal physiological and pathologic states. The use of non-toxic plant extracts that inhibit angiogenesis might lead to more focus on the use of natural sources as a pivotal therapeutic agent in the treatment of many diseases and malignancies. Mesembryanthemum cordifolium is belongs to the Aizoaceae family and commonly known as the Heartleaf Ice Plant or Tiny Sun Rose. The plant was cultivated in the city of al Diwaniyah. No previous research has been conducted on this plant and its antiangiogenic properties. Hence, this research aimed to assess the antiangiogenic capacity of the Iraqi M. cordifolium. For this study, male albino rats aged 12 to 14 weeks were used. With a Soxhlet apparatus, the defatted plant components were extracted in 85 % methanol for 12 h. Subsequently, each fraction was fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate and each fraction underwent phytochemical analysis. Rat aortic rings were infused with 100 ?g/mL of each plant component and placed in a growth medium. In addition, the dose-response relationship was assessed for the most active fraction at 6 different concentrations ranging from 6.25 ?g/mL to 100 ?g/mL. Compared to the negative control (1 % DMSO), the results demonstrated that fractions of M. cordifolium inhibit the growth of blood vessels in a dose-dependent manner; chloroform demonstrates the most potent effect. The results indicate that the chloroform fraction derived from M. cordifolium has a good ability to limit blood vessel development. This makes it a viable option for future investigation as an angiogenesis inhibitor.