OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of angelicanaphtha on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and collagen synthesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSHUVEC was cultured and passaged in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and treated with angelicanaphtha 1 mg/ L, 4 mg/L, and 16 mg/L at 1, 3, 5, and 7 day respectively. The proliferation was measured with MTT method. The cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed with flow cytometry and collagen synthesis was determined with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe proliferation of the HUVEC was accelerated by angelicanaphtha < or =4 mg/L and inhibited by angelicanaphtha at 16 mg/L (P < 0.05). Lower concentration (< or = 4 mg/L) of Angelicanaphtha decreased cells in G0/G1 phase and increased significantly cells in S phase and inhibited the apoptosis (P < 0.05). However, angelicanaphtha at 16 mg/L increased cells in G0/G1 phase and decreased cells in S phase and induced the apoptosis (P < 0.05). The collagen synthesis of HUVEC was inhibited by angelicanaphtha in concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe proliferation effects of angelicanaphtha on HUVEC had dualistic regulation of increase by lower-concentration and inhibition by higher-concentration. Collagen synthesis of HUVEC was inhibited by angelicanaphtha in concentration-dependent manner.