Ferulic Acid Prevents Angiogenesis Through Cyclooxygenase-2 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Chick...

This study was designed to verify the antiangiogenic activity of ferulic acid (FA) and its potency to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Moreover, we verified its mechanism of action by docking the molecule on COX-2, tyrosine kinase, and VEGF-2 proteins in silico.

An antiangiogenesis assay of FA at doses of 30, 60, and 90 μg was performed using the CAM of chicken eggs that were 9 days old and stimulated by 60 ng of basic fibroblast growth factor. Celecoxib (60 μg) was used as the reference drug. The inhibitory activity on VEGF and COX-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry assay. Molecular docking of FA was accomplished by Molegro Virtual Docker program ver. 5.5 on COX-2 enzyme (PDB ID 1CX2), tyrosine kinase receptor (PDB ID 1XKK), and VEGF-2 receptor (PDB ID 4ASD).

FA at doses of 30, 60, and 90 μg significantly prevented angiogenesis in the CAM model, which was represented as inhibitory activity against endothelial cells of blood vessels (42.6-70.7%) and neovascularization (43.0-86.6%). The inhibitory activity of FA against VEGF expression was stronger than its action on COX-2 expression. Molecular docking on VEGF-2 receptor resulted in an RS value of FA of -73.844 kcal/mol and for celecoxib it was -94.557 kcal/mol. The RS value on tyrosine kinase of FA was -84.954 kcal/mol, while on celecoxib it was -93.163 kcal/mol. Docking on COX-2 receptor gave an RS value of FA of -73.416 kcal/mol, while for celecoxib it was -118.107 kcal/mol.

Reductions in VEGF-2 and COX-2 expression due to treatment with FA at the dose range 30-90 μg appeared to be related to angiogenesis inhibition, which was shown by two parameters, namely inhibition of neovascularization and endothelial cell growth in blood vessels. It was concluded that FA is a promising antiangiogenic therapeutic agent especially at the early stage, and this activity can arise from inhibitory action on COX-2 and VEGF-2 proteins.