In Vitro Angiogenesis Effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction () and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: A Comparison Study.

Objective: To compare the angiogenesis behaviors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Chinese medicine Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (, XZD) treatments.

Methods: Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were treated with various concentrations of either XZD-containing serum (XZD-CS) or VEGF for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro tube formation assays were used to assess their angiogenic effects.

Results: VEGF promoted all cellular phases involved in angiogenesis including cell viability, proliferation, migration, adhesion, and tube formation (<0.05 or <0.01). Unlike the continuous promotion effects of VEGF at the above stages, XZD inhibited cell viability and proliferation (<0.05 or <0.01) and only promoted tube formation in the early phase of angiogenesis (<0.01).

Conclusions: These two medications promote different angiogenesis behaviors, which might be an important reason for their distinct therapeutic profile in clinical usage.