Antiangiogenic effects and mechanisms of trans-ethyl p-methoxycinnamate from Kaempferia galanga L

Kaempferia galanga L. (Zingiberaceae) is an aromatic herb and a popular spice used as a condiment in Asian cuisine. The ethanol extract of the dried plant and its successive four subfractions were investigated on zebrafish model by quantitative endogenous Alkaline Phosphatase assay. Both n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions had antiangiogenic activity, and two major active components (trans-ethyl p-methoxycinnamate and kaempferol) showed potent antiangiogenic effects on wild-type zebrafish. Because of its much stronger effect and no antiangiogenic activity reported, trans-ethyl p-methoxycinnamate was further investigated for its action mechanism. It dose dependently inhibited vessel formation on both wild- and Tg(fli1a:EGFP)y1-type zebrafish embryos. The semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay suggested that trans-ethyl p-methoxycinnamate affects multiple molecular targets related to angiogenesis. In vitro, it specifically inhibited the migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In vivo, it could block bFGF-induced vessel formation on Matrigel plug assay.