In vitro inhibitory effect of crab shell extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the tissue repair, rheumatoid arthritis, retinopathies, and growth and metastasis of cancer. Endothelial cell proliferation has been introduced as a model of angiogenesis. Crab sell was suggested for cancer treatment in traditional medicine. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effect of crab shell hydroethanolic extract on the human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation. Crab sell extract was prepared and the effect of its various concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 μg/ml) on HUVECs were surveyed in three periods of 24, 48 and 72 h. HUVEC viability, Nitric oxide (NO) secretion and apoptosis were assessed by MTT, Griess and Tunnel methods, respectively. Data were compared by one-way ANOVA. In this study we found HUVECs viability was reduced in dose and time depended manner significantly and HUVECs NO production decreased significantly, too. Apoptosis index was increased significantly. These findings reveal that high concentrations of crab shell extract have anti-proliferative effects on HUVECs and can be used for cancer treatment.