Nutraceuticals as anti-angiogenic agents: hopes and reality.

[prryjones]

J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;56 Suppl 1:51-69. Related Articles, Links


Nutraceuticals as anti-angiogenic agents: hopes and reality.

Dulak J.

Department of Cell Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. jdulak@mol.uj.edu.pl.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vascular network is a driving force of organ development in ontogeny, is necessary for ovulation and hair growth, and is prerequisite for proper wound healing. It is also a critical mechanism of numerous diseases, the most important of which are cancer and atherosclerosis. Therefore, modulation of angiogenesis is considered as therapeutic strategies of great importance for human health. Numerous bioactive plant compounds, often referred to as nutraceuticals are recently tested for the potential clinical applications. Among the most frequently studied are resveratrol, a polyphenol present in red-wine and grape-seed, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from green tea and curcumin from Curcuma longa. It is also possible that components of other plants, including the constituents of local food diet may find application for modulation of angiogenesis, provided that their effectiveness will be confirmed in controlled, scientifically validated trials.

PMID: 15800385 [PubMed - in process]

[Tricia]

Interesting Perry. But does this mean if we do finally find a succesful way of preventing angiogenesis that problems with ovulation (for women of course, not you!) and hair growth could occur? Probably other side effects too too right?

Tricia

[prryjones]

Hi Tricia,
Are you specifically referring to the Vitamin D, the curcumin, genistein, or the green tea phyoestrogens?
(Of course I prob. don't know the answer now, but can look it up, later),
Perry
ps I know that green tea has been used by the chinese and japanese for thousands of years, without compliant. I believe soy protein is proven and curcumin has been used for (?) years on the whole Indo-Asian continenent. I think only vitamin D is the new kid on the block....?

[Tricia]

Well, I guess I was referring to all anti-blood vessel products. Seeing as how blood vessels are needed for other functions of the body, I'm just wondering if we should be concerned about stopping their re-growth all together.

I have no scientific reasoning for this concern, just a thought running through my neurotic brain!

I'm going to try curcummin plus shark cartiledge (both orally)after my next round of IPL in a couple of weeks. Who knows if they will do anything, but I think the pyschological effect of doing something might help.

Tricia

[prryjones]

Hi Tricia,
I think it is a great point, one that i've thought about.
Here are my thoughts on this: First, we wil be lucky if any of these molecules work as well in the body as in vitro (eg - in chick embryos).
I have read of a study where 3 cups of green tea/day is proprtionally equivalent of that used to sucessfully inhibit corneal neovascularization in lab mice. Wow...that would be GREAT...but would it have the same effects in the facial skin? So many unanswered questions. Also...I would guess that the first areas most affected by ANY VEGF inhibitor would be those areas which are abnormally producing the VEGF in the first place...eg facial rosacea skin. Since this area ia pathologically out of control, I think it would be the first affected. Makes sense to me.
Finally, regarding green tea and curcumin...Indians and asians have been consuming this stuff for thousands of years with no problems. The test of time is the best evidence in medicine.
For myself, I am taking soy, green tea, vitamin D, and low dose doxycycline to potentially improve my skin (along with isotretinoin). Will be a long term process...but hey...what can one do?
Take care,
Perry