Anti-angiogenic activity of julibroside J8, a natural product isolated from Albizia julibrissin

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-angiogenic properties of julibroside J 8 , a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Albizia julibrissin . Methods In the presence of juliborside J 8, the growth of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1), four human tumor cell lines, and a normal cell line (MRC-5) was evaluated by MTT assay. The in vivo anti-angiogenic effect of julibroside J 8 was evaluated on a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and in transplanted colon carcinoma cells in a nude mice neovascularisation model. Results Treatment with 0.5–4 μg/ml julibroside J 8 resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of growth, migration, and tube formation in HMEC-1 cells; julibroside J 8 also inhibited the formation of microvessels on CAM at a concentration of 10–50 μg/egg and reduced vessel density within tumor at a concentration of 0.5–3 mg/kg. Conclusions Julibroside J 8 may be a potent anti-angiogenetic and cytotoxic drug; further investigation is warranted.