In Vitro Angiogenesis Effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction () and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: A Comparison Study

To compare the angiogenesis behaviors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Chinese medicine Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (, XZD) treatments.

Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were treated with various concentrations of either XZD-containing serum (XZD-CS) or VEGF for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro tube formation assays were used to assess their angiogenic effects.

VEGF promoted all cellular phases involved in angiogenesis including cell viability, proliferation, migration, adhesion, and tube formation (<0.05 or <0.01). Unlike the continuous promotion effects of VEGF at the above stages, XZD inhibited cell viability and proliferation (<0.05 or <0.01) and only promoted tube formation in the early phase of angiogenesis (<0.01).

These two medications promote different angiogenesis behaviors, which might be an important reason for their distinct therapeutic profile in clinical usage.