Anti-Angiogenic Activity of Ficus carica Latex Extract on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a key process in cancer developmentand metastasis. In this study, the anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative potentials of Ficuscarica latex extract have been investigated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Different doses of latex extract were prepared and added to a three-dimensional culture ofHUVEC in a collagen matrix. After 3-5 days of treatment, the anti-angiogenic effects of theextracts were monitored microscopically. For the anti-proliferation assay, different dosesof the extracts were examined on HUVECs.The results clearly indicated that latex extract could inhibit proliferation and capillary tubeformation of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner at the range of 100-400 μg/ml. In addition,the extract was not cytotoxic up to 450 μg/ml as assessed by trypan blue and lactatedehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assays.It is concluded that latex extracts of F. carica contain strong anti-angiogenic andanti-proliferative activities. Our data indicates that latex extract could be a candidateas a potential agent for the prevention of angiogenesis in cancer and other chronicdisorders