Inhibitory effects of Feiyanning Decoction on proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibitory effects of Feiyanning Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for replenishing qi, nourishing essence, and diminishing stagnation by detoxification, on proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: HUVECs were isolated from the new-born umbilical core of human. Serum containing Feiyanning was prepared in SD rats by oral gavage of the Feiyanning Decoction for three days. The inhibitory effects of different contents of serum containing Feiyanning on the proliferation of HUVECs, human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549, and HUVECs cultured with A549-conditioned media were observed by sulforhodamine B (SRB) method; the effects on migration of HUVECs were inspected by using Boyden Chamber Transwell method, and the effects on tube formation of HUVECs were evaluated by cavity forming experiment. RESULTS: Serum containing Feiyanning at a concentration of 25%, 37.5% or 50% inhibited the proliferation of both the HUVECs and the HUVECs cultured with A549-conditioned media (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). High concentration serum containing Feiyanning inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells. Sera containing Feiyanning at concentrations of 12.5% to 37.5% inhibited the migration of HUVECs induced by 20% fetal bovine serum (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the formation of the primary tube of HUVECs. CONCLUSION: Feiyanning Decoction can inhibit the angiogenesis of HUVECs, which may be one of its mechanisms in inhibiting the invasion metastases of lung cancer.