Anti-angiogenic activity of Entada africana root

Nat Prod Res. 2015;29(16):1551-6. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2014.987773. Epub 2014 Dec 6.

Abstract

Entada africana roots are used in African traditional medicine for various diseases including inflammation. This application may be mediated through anti-angiogenic effects. Thus, in this study the anti-angiogenic activity of E. africana root extracts (n-hexane, chloroform, chloroform/methanol and methanol) was preliminarily evaluated by the quantitative determination of endogenous alkaline phosphatase in zebrafish embryos. A bioactivity-guided fractionation of chloroform/methanol extract yielded apigenin and robinetin as the main constituents from the most active fractions. In addition, a marked reduction on capillary formation was evidenced in chick chorioallantoic membrane after treatment with the active fractions or isolated compounds. Results obtained in this study suggest that the anti-angiogenic effects of E. africana root may account for its use in inflammatory diseases and other related pathological conditions.

Keywords: CAM; Entada africana; anti-angiogenesis; chick chorioallantoic membrane; flavonoids; zebrafish.

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Apigenin / chemistry
  • Apigenin / isolation & purification
  • Chick Embryo
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
  • Fabaceae / chemistry*
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification
  • Medicine, African Traditional
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Apigenin
  • robinetin