Palm Tocotrienol Complex Suppresses Angiogenesis – Study
Japanese researchers showed that natural full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex (in the form of Tocomin 50%, supplied by Carotech Ltd) suppressed in vivo angiogenesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
09/08/07 Carotech Ltd, the largest and leading manufacturer of premium quality natural full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex (Tocomin) and natural palm mixed carotene complex (Caromin), has announced the publication of the latest research study on Tocomin and its potent effect in preventing the formation of new blood vessels.
Published in the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition (137(8), 1938–1943), Japanese researchers from the Tohoku University and Nippon Medical School, Tokyo showed that natural full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex (in the form of Tocomin 50%, supplied by Carotech Ltd) suppressed in vivo angiogenesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The researchers investigated tocotrienol’s antiangiogenic properties using two well-characterized angiogenic mouse models—the mouse dorsal air sac (DAS) assay and the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.
In the DAS assay, dietary supplementation of 10 mg of Tocomin 50% per day clearly and significantly prevented the increased in neovascularization by more than 40% in tumor cell-implanted mice, compared to control. Similarly, in the CAM assay, Tocomin inhibited new blood vessel formation on the growing CAM, resulting in avascular zone. Cell-culture studies revealed tocotrienol significantly reduced fibroblast growth factor-induced proliferation, migration and tube formation in HUVEC.
The researchers found no negative effects in preexisting vessels treated with Tocomin 50% - indicating that normal blood vessels are not affected by tocotrienols. Another interesting observation was is that the regular tocopherol (alpha tocopherol) showed no angiogenic inhibition effect, suggesting that the three double bonds in the unsaturated side chain of tocotrienol play an important factor in conferring tocotrienol its potent antiangiogenic effect.
The study was demonstrated that the angiogenic inhibitory effect of Tocomin was associated with changes in the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K/PDK/Akt) signaling as well as apoptosis induction in the endothelial cells.
The Japanese researchers led by Dr. Kiyotaka Nagakawa concluded that tocotrienol has potential as a potent therapeutic dietary supplement for preventing angiogenic disorders especially in inhibiting tumour growth.
