In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antiangiogenic activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum extracts

Objective: To assess the antiangiogenic activity of fenugreek. Methods: Different fractions of fenugreek crude extracts were prepared and their antiangiogenic properties were assessed using the ex vivo rat aortic ring assay and in vivo chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. They were investigated for their direct cytotoxic activity in the MCF7 cells using the MTT assay. Results: The ethanol extract showed 100% inhibition of blood vessel outgrowth from primary tissue explants in the rat aortic ring assay at a concentration of 100 μg/mL while the other extracts did not show significant antiangiogenic activity. The ethanol extract was therefore investigated at varying concentrations and exhibited a significant dose dependent effect. The CAM assay coincided with the results of the aortic ring assay as ethanol extract showed a significant inhibition of formation of new blood vessels. The extracts only showed anti-proliferative activity at the highest concentration of 400 μg/mL towards MCF7 breast cancer cell lines in the MTT assay. Conclusions: Findings of the both assays confirmed that the ethanol extract inhibited vascularization significantly. Further studies on the ethanol extract would be beneficial in isolating the active ingredient responsible for the inhibition