Effects of Cordyceps militaris extract on angiogenesis and tumor growth

AIM: To evaluate the effects of Cordyceps militaris extract (CME) on angiogenesis and tumor growth. METHODS:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), HT1080, and B16-F10 cells were used. DNA fragment, angio-genic related gene expressions (MMPs, bFGF, VEGF, etc), capillary tube formation, wound healing in vitro, tumorgrowth in vivo were measured. RESULTS: CME inhibited growth of HUVECs and HT1080 (P<0.01). CME 100and 200 mg/L reduced MMP-2 gene expression in HT1080 cells by 6.0 % and 22.9 % after 3-h and 14.9 % and32.8 % after 6-h treatment. CME did not affect MMP-9 gene expression in B16-F10 melanoma cells. CME 100 and200 mg/L also reduced bFGF gene expression in HUVECs by 22.2 % and 41.3 %. CME inhibited tube formation ofendothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. CME repressed the growth of B16-F10 melanoma cells in mice compared withcontrol group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CME has antiangiogenetic properties.