The phytochemical screening and antiangiogenic activity of audthan al himar (Moricandia sinaica Boiss.) extracts in zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Natural antiangiogenic products interact with multiple molecular angiogenic pathways and possesses comparably less toxicities then chemically synthesized anti-angiogenic compounds. There is a need to screen varieties of medicinal plants to identify more sources of antiangiogenic compounds, as anticancer drugs with less side effects. This study was designed to explore the antiangiogenic property and cytotoxicity of Moricandia sinaica (Boiss.) in zebrafish embryos, as well as its anti-migratory potential in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrophotometry was performed in order to identify bioactive molecules present in the stem and leaves part of Moricandia sinaica. The methanol extract of the stem and leaves inhibited the formation of the inter-segmental, sub-intestinal vein, and dorsal longitudinal anastomotic veins formation in zebrafish embryos in a dose-dependent manner. It did not show cytotoxicity at lower concentration in HUVECs; however, it significantly (p < 0.001) obstructed HUVEC migration at sub-lethal concentrations after 24 and 48 h of treatment. More than 40 phytochemicals were identified from the extract using GC-MS. Our study demonstrates that leaves and stem extract of Moricandia sinaica, exhibits a strong antiangiogenic activity and slight developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos, and no cytotoxicity in HUVECs. The crude extract warrants further research to elucidate the anticancer potential of M. sinaica. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.