Angio-Suppressive Effect of Sterols from Ardisia Pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers.

Resumo

Spinasterol (1) and spinasteryl acetate (2) from the leaves of Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers. (Myrsinaceae) were tested on duck chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vascularity assay. The petechial to severe hemorrhaging, hyperemia, and the formation of ghost vessels were observed in CAMs treated with compounds 1 and 2. Both sterols have effectively suppressed blood vessel branching and inter-capillary elongation. High degree of vonWillebrand factor expression was observed in these CAMs treated with 1 and 2. This is further confirmed by the absence of the epithelial membrane antigen in all samples tested, suggesting that the main mechanism of angio-suppression is related to the action of von Willebrand factor which modulates other angiogenic factors. Spinasterol was found to be most effective in reducing the branch point formation and inter capillary distance with very minimal incidence of mortality, thus suggesting its potential as a source of phytopharmaceuticals.