Isoliquiritigenin from licorice root suppressed neovascularisation in experimental ocular angiogenesis models.

Abstract

AIM:

To explore the antiangiogenic property of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) on in vivo and in vitro models.

DESIGN:

Laboratory investigation.

METHODS:

The effect of ISL on angiogenesis development was investigated using ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane model. Its effect on pathological angiogenesis was examined by (1) silver nitrate cauterisation-induced corneal neovascularisation in BALB/c mice, followed by topical ISL (0.2-50 μM) and CD31 immunofluorescence of corneal blood vessels; (2) argon laser photocoagulation-induced choroidal neovascularisation in C57BL/6 mice, followed by intravitreal ISL (10-200 μM) and fundus fluorescein angiography and immunofluorescence with Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin-B4 (GSA I-B4); and (3) oxygen-induced retinopathy in C57BL/6J mice pups, followed by intravitreal ISL (1-100 μM) and GSA I-B4 immunofluorescence. The vascular area was quantified and analysed by one-way analysis of variance and Student t test. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment-epithelium-derived factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was analysed by western blotting.

RESULTS:

Ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay showed that ISL dose-dependently suppressed VEGF-induced vessel growth. In vivo experiments illustrated that topical ISL alleviated corneal neovascularisation (IC(50)=7.14 μM, day 7) and intravitreal ISL reduced vessel leakage and GSA I-B4-positive vascular area in choroidal and retinal neovascularisation. ISL was found to dose-dependently suppress VEGF and induce pigment epithelium derived factor expression in cultured endothelial cells.

CONCLUSION:

Using various experimental models of ocular neovascularisation, the authors have demonstrated that ISL from licorice extract has an antiangiogenic effect. The authors' findings suggest that ISL may be a potential antiangiogenic molecule in the development of therapy for neovascularisation diseases.

• Authors: Vishal Jhanji, Huanming Liu, Kasin Law, Vincent Yau-Wing Lee, Shao-Fen Huang, Chi-Pui Pang, Gary Hin-Fai Yam
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 95 Issue 9 Pg. 1309-15 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1468-2079 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21719569 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Chalcones
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Eye Proteins
• Nerve Growth Factors
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Serpins
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• pigment epithelium-derived factor
• isoliquiritigenin

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Blotting, Western
• Cells, Cultured
• Chalcones (pharmacology)
• Chick Embryo
• Chorioallantoic Membrane (drug effects, embryology, metabolism)
• Choroidal Neovascularization (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Corneal Neovascularization (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Endothelial Cells (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Endothelium, Vascular (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Eye Proteins (biosynthesis, drug effects)
• Female
• Fluorescein Angiography
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Fundus Oculi
• Glycyrrhiza
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Nerve Growth Factors (biosynthesis, drug effects)
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Plants
• Retinal Neovascularization (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Serpins (biosynthesis, drug effects)
• Umbilical Veins (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)