Figure 6From: Plant proteolytic enzyme papain abrogates angiogenic activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro Effect of other plant derived proteolytic enzymes on cell growth and tube formation of HUVEC. HUVEC were seeded into fibronectin coated 96-well microtiterplates and cultured in EGM. After 24 hours medium was changed to EBM containing 10 ng/mL VEGF or 10 ng/mL VEGF and bromelain respectively ficin at concentrations as indicated. After 24 hours, cell growth was assayed as described above. Data are shown as mean ± standard error of measurement. Treatment with bromelain as well as ficin resulted in a significant inhibition of proliferation at concentrations between 10 μg/mL and 25 μg/mL (Panel A). Panel B shows the effect of bromelain and ficin on tube formation, assayed as described above. Briefly, after 4 hours preincubation bromelain respectively ficin was added at concentrations as indicated. Data were measured as network length and shown as mean percent control ± standard error of measurement. Treatment with 1μg/mL bromelain inhibited tube formation significantly to control levels. At concentrations of 10 μg/mL bromelain or ficin tube formation was almost completely abrogated.Back to article page