Natural health products that inhibit tumoral angiogenesis

Abstract

Neovascularization is controlled by a sequence of endogenous polypeptides released during growth, healing and tissue renewal in normal tissues. Neoplasms have the ability to stimulate and synthesize and the most important ones are the vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoetins. By using monoclonal antibodies, targeted therapies are recently developed, which block the formation of new blood vessels. Data we have until now show that the use of single agent antiangiogenesis has limited efficacy. Natural health products consist of complex organic chemicals and many substances with synergistic activity against cancer. In this review, we discuss natural health products that have antiangiogenic effect.