Grifola frondosa (maitake mushroom) water extract inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis through inhibition of reactive oxygen species and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation.

ABSTRACT Grifola frondosa, a large edible mushroom also known as maitake, has been used as a health food for centuries in China and Japan. In the present study, we examined anti-angiogenic activity of a water extract of the fruiting body of G. frondosa (GFW). An in vivo angiogenesis assay using chick chorioallantoic membrane revealed that GFW (1–100 μg/mL) dose-dependently inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. In addition, GFW inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation, chemotactic migration, and capillary-like tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a concentration-dependent manner. Upon stimulation by VEGF, HUVECs rapidly increased reactive oxygen species production, which was significantly blocked by the treatment with GFW. Moreover, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, a downstream signaling molecule following VEGF receptor activation, was also inhibited by GFW. The results indicate that GFW effectively inhibit angioge...