"Three triterpenic acids, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and maslinic acid, at 2 or 4 μmol/L were used to
study their antiangiogenic potential in human liver cancer Hep3B, Huh7 and HA22T cell lines. The
effects of these compounds upon the level and/or expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1R,
basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8,
urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and cell
invasion and migration were examined. Results showed that these triterpenic acids at 4 μmol/L
significantly suppressed HIF-1R expression in three cell lines (P < 0.05); and these compounds at
test doses failed to affect bFGF expression (P > 0.05). Three triterpenic acids dose-dependently
decreased production and expression of VEGF and IL-8, retained glutathione level, lowered ROS
and NO levels, and declined cell invasion and migration in test cell lines (P < 0.05). These
compounds also dose-dependently reduced uPA production and expression in Hep3B and Huh7 cell
lines (P < 0.05); but these agents only at 4 μmol/L significantly suppressed uPA production and
expression in HA22T cells (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that these triterpenic acids are potent
antiangiogenic agents to retard invasion and migration in liver cancer cells."
Relation:
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY; 59(2):755-62.