Phyllanthus urinaria induces the Fas receptor/ligand expression and ceramide-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 cells

Bioguided Fractionation of Phyllanthus spp.: Unveiling Anticancer Potential through Metabolomic Correlation and ADMETox Insights

Cancer remains a significant global health concern, with mortality rates steadily rising and prompting an urgent search for effective treatments. This study focuses on the medicinal properties of plants from the Phyllanthus genus, specifically Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus niruri, which have shown promise in traditional medicine. Through bioguided fractionation using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), bioactive compounds were isolated and identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MSE) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Chemometric analyses such as principal component analysis (PCA) aided in understanding metabolite distribution. Biological assays demonstrated cytotoxic activities of specific fractions against cancer cell lines, notably the PhyN 4n fraction from P. niruri, which induced S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HL60 cells. These findings underscore the anticancer potential of Phyllanthus species and lay the groundwork for future drug development efforts. The study's integration of advanced analytical techniques, chemometrics, and biological assays provides valuable insights for harnessing natural products in the fight against cancer.

Ceramide Acyl Chain Length and Its Relevance to Intracellular Lipid Regulation

Ceramides are a class of sphingolipids which are implicated in skin disorders, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. As a class with pleiotropic effects, recent efforts have centred on discerning specific ceramide species and their effects on atopic dermatitis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This delineation has allowed the identification of disease biomarkers, with long acyl chain ceramides such as C16- and C18-ceramides linked to metabolic dysfunction and cardiac function decline, while ultra-long acyl chain ceramides (>25 carbon acyl chain) were reported to be essential for maintaining a functional skin barrier. Given the intricate link between free fatty acids with ceramides, especially the de novo synthetic pathway, intracellular lipid droplet formation is increasingly viewed as an important mechanism for preventing accumulation of toxic ceramide species. Here, we review recent reports of various ceramide species involved in skin abnormalities and metabolic diseases, and we propose that promotion of lipid droplet biogenesis can be seen as a potential protective mechanism against deleterious ceramides.

UPLC-HRMS and NMR applied in the evaluation of solid-phase extraction methods as a rational strategy of dereplication of Phyllanthus spp. aiming at the discovery of cytotoxic metabolites

The classical approach to drug discovery from natural products (NP's) requires strenuous and complex purification steps for the isolation and structural elucidation. Modern strategies as dereplication aim to accelerate the identification of known compounds present in a crude or partially purified extract. In this work, we investigated the influence of the solid-phase extraction (Oasis, Plexa, and Agilent C18 cartridges with and without organic modifiers) chemical profile obtained by UPLC-QTOF-MS and NMR and cytotoxicities of aqueous extracts from Phyllanthus niruri and P. amarus. Our results showed differences between the SPE cartridges and the mass recovered. P. niruri showed higher mass recovery than P. amarus indicating a higher amount of secondary metabolites. The UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed that P. niruri crude extract presents higher contents of phenolic compounds than P. amarus. According to NMR analysis, P. niruri contained more tyrosine, corilagin, and glycosidic residues while P. amarus, presented higher content of ellagic acid. The different stationary phases, as well as mobile phases for exploratory SPE, enabled the exploitation of the different chemical functionalities within the Phyllanthus species. The SPE (MeOH:H₂O 70:30 with C18 cartridges) samples showed greater in vitro cytotoxicity than the crude extracts, with IC₅₀ ranging from 8.01 to 94.92 μg mL^-1 against the tumor lines tested. The solid phase extraction allowed the concentration of molecules with desirable physicochemical characteristics, which might increase the hit of therapeutically useful substances.

A Review of the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Phyllanthus urinaria L

The genus Phyllanthus (L.) is one of the most important groups of plants belonging to the Phyllantaceae family. Phyllanthus urinaria (L.) is an annual perennial herbal species found in tropical Asia, America, China, and the Indian Ocean islands. P. urinaria is used in folk medicine as a cure to treat jaundice, diabetes, malaria, and liver diseases. This review provides traditional knowledge, phytochemistry, and biological activities of P. urinaria. The literature reviewed for this article was obtained from the Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar journal papers published prior to December 2017. Phytochemical investigations reveal that the plant is a rich source of lignans, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and other secondary metabolites. Pharmacological activities include anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective effects. Thus, this present review summarizes the phytochemical constituents and their biological activities including biological studies on various crude extracts and fractions both in vitro and in vivo, and on clinical trial information about P. urinaria. This review compiles 93 naturally occurring compounds from P. urinaria along with their structures and pharmacological activities. The review is expected to stimulate further research on P. urinaria, and its pharmacological potential to yield novel therapeutic agents.

Phyllanthus urinaria’s Inhibition of Human Osteosarcoma Xenografts Growth in Mice is Associated with Modulation of Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Machinery

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone cancer arising from primitive transformed cells of mesenchymal origin to form malignant osteoid. Phyllanthus urinaria [Formula: see text]P. urinaria[Formula: see text] is a widely used folk medicine in cancer treatment, however the mechanism of P. urinaria inhibited human osteosarcoma is unclear. The present study was aimed at investigating the antitumoral effects of an aqueous P. urinaria on human osteosarcoma in vivo and the related underlying mechanisms, mainly focusing on mitochondrial dynamic dysfunction. Our results showed that oral administration of P. urinaria to mice led to significant inhibition of tumor development without substantial changes to body weight or major organs. Histological examinations with H&E, Giemsa, and Masson trichrome stains confirmed inhibition of tumor growth by the P. urinaria treatment. Immunohistochemical staining of proliferation markers antigen KI-67 (Ki67) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), as well as a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay demonstrated a decrease of tumor proliferation and an increase of apoptosis, which was associated with the modulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family activating the caspase cascade in the P. urinaria-treated mice. The neovascularization marker cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) was inhibited in P. urinaria-treated xenografts, implicating the potential anti-angiogenic effect of P. urinaria. P. urinaria treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the mitochondrial fusion proteins, including mitofusin 1/2 (Mfn1/2) and optic atrophy type 1 (Opa1), as well as an increase in the fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). The results of this study suggest mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with dynamic change that is involved in the apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis elicited by P. urinaria.

Self-assembly of glycinin nanoparticles for delivery of phenolic compounds from Phyllanthus urinaria

Glycinin nanoparticles for delivery of phenolic compounds from Phyllanthus urinaria.

Ceramide-orchestrated signalling in cancer cells

One crucial barrier to progress in the treatment of cancer has been the inability to control the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis: enter ceramide. Discoveries over the past 15 years have elevated this sphingolipid to the lofty position of a regulator of cell fate. Ceramide, it turns out, is a powerful tumour suppressor, potentiating signalling events that drive apoptosis, autophagic responses and cell cycle arrest. However, defects in ceramide generation and metabolism in cancer cells contribute to tumour cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. This Review focuses on ceramide signalling and the targeting of specific metabolic junctures to amplify the tumour suppressive activities of ceramide. The potential of ceramide-based therapeutics in the treatment of cancer is also discussed.

Phyllanthus urinaria Induces Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma 143B Cells via Activation of Fas/FasL- and Mitochondria-Mediated Pathways

Phyllanthus urinaria (P. urinaria), in this study, was used for the treatment of human osteosarcoma cells, which is one of the tough malignancies with few therapeutic modalities. Herein, we demonstrated that P. urinaria inhibited human osteosarcoma 143B cells growth through an apoptotic extrinsic pathway to activate Fas receptor/ligand expression. Both intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species were increased to lead to alterations of mitochondrial membrane permeability and Bcl-2 family including upregulation of Bid, tBid, and Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2. P. urinaria triggered an intrinsic pathway and amplified the caspase cascade to induce apoptosis of 143B cells. However, upregulation of both intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and the sequential membrane potential change were less pronounced in the mitochondrial respiratory-defective 143Bρ(0) cells compared with the 143B cells. This study offers the evidence that mitochondria are essential for the anticancer mechanism induced by P. urinaria through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

Comparison of the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Phyllanthus virgatus and Phyllanthus amarus extracts

OBJECTIVE

To determine the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Phyllanthus virgatus crude extract compared to Phyllanthus amarus.

METHODS

Phenolic contents of the hydromethanolic extracts were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate free radical scavenging and antilipid peroxidation assays. Cytotoxicity on human hepatoma HepG2 cells was assessed by trypan blue and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide viability assays. A stereomicroscope was used to observe and photograph the morphology of the cells. Oxygen consumption of the HepG2 cells was measured using a Clark oxygen electrode.

RESULTS

The extract of P. virgatus, which contained more phenolic compounds than P. amarus extract, had higher cytotoxicity and showed higher free radical scavenging activity and more inhibition of peroxidation in a linoleic acid system. P. virgatus extract conspicuously increased the oxygen consumption of HepG2 cells, while P. amarus extract had little stimulatory effect.

CONCLUSION

The hydromethanolic extract of P. virgatus had stronger antioxidant and cytotoxic action than P. amarus extract. The stimulation of HepG2 cell respiration by P. virgatus extract suggests the extract alters mitochondrial function; this action could play a role in the cytotoxicity of this plant.

Excoecarianin, Isolated from Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea, Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection through Inactivation of Viral Particles

Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea (Euphorbiaceae) is one of the traditional medicinal plants widely used by oriental people to treat various diseases. We have previously demonstrated that the acetone extract of P. urinaria inhibits herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but not HSV-1 infection. In a continuing effort to clarify the antiviral mechanisms of P. urinaria, we isolated the pure compound excoecarianin from the whole plant of P. urinaria through acetone extraction, and investigated its anti-HSV-1 and HSV-2 activities. Our results indicated that excoecarianin protected Vero cells from HSV-2 but not HSV-1 infection, and its 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 1.4 ± 0.1 μM. The antiviral effective concentration of excoecarianin did not affect the viability or the morphology of Vero cells. Although excoecarianin inhibited HSV-2 infection, the inhibitory effect, however, was most prominent when excoecarianin was concurrently added with the virus. Pretreatment of Vero cells with excoecarianin with removal of the drug prior to infection did not yield any antiviral effects, and the same observation was made for post viral entry treatment. Subsequent studies revealed that excoecarianin inactivated HSV-2 virus particles to prevent viral infection. A synergistic antiviral effect against HSV-2 was also observed when Vero cells were treated with a combination of acyclovir (ACV) and excoecarianin. These results suggested that excoecarianin merits to be further explored as an entry inhibitor against HSV-2 and could potentially be investigated for combinatorial drug treatment with nucleoside analogues such as ACV in therapeutic management of HSV-2 infection.

Ellagic Acid, the Active Compound of Phyllanthus urinaria, Exerts In Vivo Anti-Angiogenic Effect and Inhibits MMP-2 Activity

This study aimed to assess the potential anti-angiogenic mechanism of Phyllanthus urinaria (P. urinaria) and characterize the major compound in P. urinaria that exerts anti-angiogenic effect. The water extract of P. urinaria and Ellagic Acid were used to evaluate the anti-angiogenic effect in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in chicken embryo and human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). The matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity was determined by gelatin zymography. The mRNA expressions of MMP-2, MMP-14 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Level of MMP-2 proteins in conditioned medium or cytosol was determined by western blot analysis. We confirmed that P. urinaria's in vivo anti-angiogenic effect was associated with a reduction in MMP-2 activity. Ellagic acid, one of the major polyphenolic components as identified in P. urinaria by high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS), exhibited the same anti-angiogenic effect in vivo. Both P. urinaria and Ellagic Acid inhibited MMP-2 activity in HUVECs with unchanged mRNA level. The mRNA expression levels of MMP-14 and TIMP-2 were not altered either. Results from comparing the change of MMP-2 protein levels in conditioned medium and cytosol of HUVECs after the P. urinaria or Ellagic Acid treatment revealed an inhibitory effect on the secretion of MMP-2 protein. This study concluded that Ellagic Acid is the active compound in P. urinaria to exhibit anti-angiogenic activity and to inhibit the secretion of MMP-2 protein from HUVECs.

Phyllanthus spp. induces selective growth inhibition of PC-3 and MeWo human cancer cells through modulation of cell cycle and induction of apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Phyllanthus is a traditional medicinal plant that has been used in the treatment of many diseases including hepatitis and diabetes. The main aim of the present work was to investigate the potential cytotoxic effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of four Phyllanthus species (P.amarus, P.niruri, P.urinaria and P.watsonii) against skin melanoma and prostate cancer cells.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Phyllanthus plant appears to possess cytotoxic properties with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 150-300 µg/ml for aqueous extract and 50-150 µg/ml for methanolic extract that were determined using the MTS reduction assay. In comparison, the plant extracts did not show any significant cytotoxicity on normal human skin (CCD-1127Sk) and prostate (RWPE-1) cells. The extracts appeared to act by causing the formation of a clear "ladder" fragmentation of apoptotic DNA on agarose gel, displayed TUNEL-positive cells with an elevation of caspase-3 and -7 activities. The Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) level was lower than 15% in Phyllanthus treated-cancer cells. These indicate that Phyllanthus extracts have the ability to induce apoptosis with minimal necrotic effects. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis revealed that Phyllanthus induced a Go/G1-phase arrest on PC-3 cells and a S-phase arrest on MeWo cells and these were accompanied by accumulation of cells in the Sub-G1 (apoptosis) phase. The cytotoxic properties may be due to the presence of polyphenol compounds such as ellagitannins, gallotannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids found both in the water and methanol extract of the plants.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Phyllanthus plant exerts its growth inhibition effect in a selective manner towards cancer cells through the modulation of cell cycle and induction of apoptosis via caspases activation in melanoma and prostate cancer cells. Hence, Phyllanthus may be sourced for the development of a potent apoptosis-inducing anticancer agent.

Effects of Phyllanthus urinaria extract on HepG2 cell viability and oxidative phosphorylation by isolated rat liver mitochondria

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Phyllanthus urinaria is widely used as anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal and hepatoprotective medicines in Asian countries such as India, China and Thailand. In Thailand, Phyllanthus urinaria is traditionally used as an adjuvant or alternative medicine for cancer patients, including liver cancer. However, there is limited scientific evidence supporting its use in cancer particularly hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the cytotoxic effect of Phyllanthus urinaria extract on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and the effect on oxidative phosphorylation by isolated rat liver mitochondria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HepG2 cells and isolated rat liver mitochondria were treated with the 50% methanolic extract of Phyllanthus urinaria. Cytotoxicity of the extract was assessed by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay. Rates of oxygen consumption of isolated mitochondria were determined with a Clark oxygen electrode.

RESULTS

It was found that the hydromethanolic extract induced cell death of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The IC(50) of Phyllanthus urinaria extract measured by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay were 431+/-65 microg/ml and 445+/-62 microg/ml, respectively. Morphological changes of the cells were also observed. With isolated rat liver mitochondria, the extract slightly stimulated mitochondrial state 4 respiration but profoundly depressed state 3 respiration and respiratory control ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

The extract impairs energy metabolism by acting as inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation and weak mitochondrial uncoupler. These mitochondrial effects may play a role in the cytotoxic action of Phyllanthus urinaria extract on HepG2 cells. These results provide preliminary experimental evidence supporting the use of Phyllanthus urinaria against hepatocellular carcinoma and open the possibility of considering this plant an adjunctive medicine for the treatment of this deadly disease.

Natural products and their role in cancer therapy

This paper documented several natural products that have antineoplastic activities. Detailed descriptions of the mechanism of action of these products are given. Side effects of these natural products are also described. Based on these side effect profiles and their benefits, these natural products could be used as adjuvant cancer therapies. Traditional anticancer agents usually have debilitating side effects. These natural products would be of great benefit due to their anticancer activities. Additionally, some of these natural products can work proactively in preventing cancer formation with their chemopreventive properties. Incorporation into diet can be recommended after discussion with physician and other health care professionals.

Phyllanthus urinaria extract attenuates acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity: involvement of cytochrome P450 CYP2E1

Acetaminophen is a commonly used drug for the treatment of patients with common cold and influenza. However, an overdose of acetaminophen may be fatal. In this study we investigated whether mice, administered intraperitoneally with a lethal dose of acetaminophen, when followed by oral administration of Phyllanthus urinaria extract, may be prevented from death. Histopathological analysis of mouse liver sections showed that Phyllanthus urinaria extract may protect the hepatocytes from acetaminophen-induced necrosis. Therapeutic dose of Phyllanthus urinaria extract did not show any toxicological phenomenon on mice. Immunohistochemical staining with the cytochrome P450 CYP2E1 antibody revealed that Phyllanthus urinaria extract reduced the cytochrome P450 CYP2E1 protein level in mice pre-treated with a lethal dose of acetaminophen. Phyllanthus urinaria extract also inhibited the cytochrome P450 CYP2E1 enzymatic activity in vitro. Heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, as well as herbicide residues were not found above their detection limits. High performance liquid chromatography identified corilagin and gallic acid as the major components of the Phyllanthus urinaria extract. We conclude that Phyllanthus urinaria extract is effective in attenuating the acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity, and inhibition of cytochrome P450 CYP2E1 enzyme may be an important factor for its therapeutic mechanism.

Hippomanin A from acetone extract of Phyllanthus urinaria inhibited HSV-2 but not HSV-1 infection in vitro

Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea (Euphorbiaceae) is a commonly used traditional medicinal plant in oriental countries and has been reported to possess various biological activities. Previously, the acetone extract and some pure compounds from P. urinaria were found to suppress herpes simplex virus (HSV). In this study, another two pure compounds were isolated from acetone extract of P. urinaria and were tested for their in vitro anti-HSV-1 and HSV-2 activities. The results showed that hippomanin A impeded HSV-2 but not HSV-1 infection. Corilagin, however, inhibited neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 replication. The similarity between corilagin and hippomanin A in structure, but difference in antiviral activity, therefore, merit further investigation.

Anti-oxidant and inflammatory mediator's growth inhibitory effects of compounds isolated from Phyllanthus urinaria

Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea (Euphorbiaceae), is a traditional anti-hepatitis herb used in Taiwan. In continuation of our search for potent natural anti-inflammatory agents, from the ethanolic extract of this plant, nine compounds including phyllanthin (1), phyltetralin (2), trimethyl-3,4-dehydrochebulate (3), methylgallate (4), and rhamnocitrin (5), methyl brevifolincarboxylate (6), beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (7), quercitrin (8), and rutin (9) were isolated. The structures of compounds 3 and 6 were established based on NMR and mass spectral studies. The isolates 1-9 were investigated for their antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. In the antioxidant assay, the isolates 3, 4 and 6 exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC(50) value of 9.4, 9.8 and 8.9 microM, respectively. On the other hand, in the inflammatory mediators growth inhibitory assay from LPS/interferon (IFN)-gamma-activated peritoneal macrophages, all the isolates except 7, significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the enhanced production of NO radicals, and such modulation was closely associated with the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, 30 microM of isolates 3 and 6, and 50 microM of 4, significantly arrest the mitogen-stimulated spleen cells in G0/G1 stage. This is the first report on Phyllanthus urinaria isolates for their growth inhibitory activities against inflammatory mediators, in addition to spleen cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 stage. Therefore, these isolates from Phyllanthus urinaria may be useful for the treatment of cell-mediated immune diseases.

Phenolic antioxidants from the whole plant of Phyllanthus urinaria

The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrydydrazyl (DPPH) assay on the extract of Phyllanthus urinaria L. (Euphorbiaceae) displayed considerable radical-scavenging activity (SC50 = 14.3 microg/ml). Further bioassay-guided purification of the extract led to the isolation of a series of 15 phenolic compounds, including the ellagitannins 1-7, the flavonoids 8-10, and the simple hydroxylated (or glycosylated) aromatic acids 11-15. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses and comparison with authentic samples or literature data. The structure of repandinin B (1) was for the first time fully assigned by 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. The phenolic compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, and 15 have not been isolated before from the title plant. The antioxidant activities and mushroom-tyrosinase-inhibitory activities of all compounds were determined by DPPH-radical-scavenging and mushroom-tyrosinase-inhibitory assays (Table 2).

A promising action of riboflavin as a mediator of leukaemia cell death

Besides having a pivotal biological function as a component of coenzymes, riboflavin appears a promissing antitumoral agent, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this work, we demonstrate that irradiated riboflavin, when applied at microM concentrations, induces an orderly sequence of signaling events finally leading to leukemia cell death. The molecular mechanism involved is dependent on the activation of caspase 8 caused by overexpression of Fas and FasL and also on mitochondrial amplification mechanisms, involving the stimulation of ceramide production by sphingomyelinase and ceramide synthase. The activation of this cascade led to an inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinases: JNK, MEK and ERK and survival mediators (PKB and IAP1), upregulation of the proapoptotic Bcl2 member Bax and downregulation of cell cycle progression regulators. Importantly, induction of apoptosis by irradiated riboflavin was leukaemia cell specific, as normal human lymphocytes did not respond to the compound with cell death. Our data indicate that riboflavin selectively activates Fas cascade and also constitutes a death receptor-engaged drug without harmful side effects in normal cells, bolstering the case for using this compound as a novel avenue for combating cancerous disease.

Anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of Phyllanthus urinaria in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma

Phyllanthus urinaria, a widely used herb medicine in Asia, was tested for its anti-tumor effect in vivo for the first time. The anti-tumor activity in P. urinaria extract was evaluated by its effect on tumor developed in C57BL/6J mice with implantation of Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The oral administration of P. urinaria to mice caused significant inhibition of tumor development with lower occurrence rate and markedly reduced tumor size. Neither the total body weight of mouse nor the weights of organs including heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidney revealed any difference between two groups, suggesting limited in vivo cytotoxic effect of P. urinaria in mice. TUNEL assay demonstrated the increase of apoptosis in tumor sections prepared from P. urinaria-treated mice compared with control mice. It is worth of note that the neovascularization in tumor was inhibited in P. urinaria-treated mice, which implicated the potential anti-angiogenic effect of P. urinaria. Further study using an in vitro matrix-induced tube formation of HUVECs again confirmed the anti-angiogenic action of P. urinaria. P. urinaria exerted no inhibitory effect on the growth of HUVECs, however, the migration of HUVECs as analyzed using transwell assay was suppressed markedly by P. urinaria in a dose-dependent manner. All together, the present study indicated that P. urinaria extract is an anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic agent, which can be used safely in animals.