The role played by a sustained angiogenesis in
cancer and other diseases stimulates the interest in the search for new antiangiogenic drugs. In this manuscript, we provide evidence that 1,8- dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (
danthron), isolated from the fermentation broth of the marine fungus Chromolaenicola sp. (HL-114-33-R04), is a new inhibitor of angiogenesis. The results obtained with the in vivo CAM assay indicate that
danthron is a potent antiangiogenic compound. In vitro studies with human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) reveal that this
anthraquinone inhibits certain key functions of activated endothelial cells, including proliferation, proteolytic and invasive capabilities and tube formation. In vitro studies with human
breast carcinoma MDA-MB231 and
fibrosarcoma HT1080 cell lines suggest a moderate antitumor and antimetastatic activity of this compound.
Antioxidant properties of
danthron are evidenced by the observation that it reduces the intracellular
reactive oxygen species production and increases the amount of intracellular sulfhydryl groups in endothelial and
tumor cells. These results support a putative role of
danthron as a new antiangiogenic
drug with potential application in the treatment and angioprevention of
cancer and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases.