Hot-water Extract of Rubus Coreanus Miquel Suppresses VEGF-induced Angiogenesis

The interruption of angiogenesis using herbal extracts is now recognized as a useful approach for treating many solid tumors. To date, the best-validated antitumor approach is to target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenic pathway. In the present study, we first identified the antiangiogenic activity of a hot-water extract of Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCMHE) in vitro and ex vivo. This extract suppressed VEGF-induced angiogenesis, the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), p38 and the activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). RCMHE also inhibited the VEGF-responsive phosphorylation of VEGFR2. These results clearly show that RCMHE may have potential therapeutic value for angiogenesis-associated human diseases through the suppression of angiogenesis and the interruption of the phosphorylation of VEGFR2.