Evaluation of Angiogenic Activity of Aqueous Extract from Peucedanum knappii Using CAM Assay

Background and objectives: Angiogenesis, the biological process of new blood vessel formation from existing vasculature, plays a critical role in wound healing and tumor progression. This study aimed to evaluate the angiogenic activity of the aqueous extract of Peucedanum knappii Bornm. using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Methods: The crude extract (80% methanol) of aerial parts from P. knappii was fractionated using solvents of varying polarity. The total phenolics content of the aqueous extract (distilled water fraction) was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. For CAM assay, the fertilized chicken eggs were divided into four groups: the control (PBS) and the aqueous extract (125, 250, and 500 μg/mL) groups. ImageJ software was used to assess the number and the total length of blood vessels. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: The total phenolics content was 56.47 mg gallic acid /g of the extract. The aqueous extract significantly increased the number of vessels at concentrations of 125 and 250 μg/mL, while at 500 μg/mL, the angiogenic response was inhibited. Conclusion: Based on our results, the aqueous extract of P. knappii exhibited dose-dependent angiogenic activity, showing a pro-angiogenic effect at lower concentrations (≤ 250 μg/mL) and an inhibitory effect at higher doses. These findings indicate that the extract has dual modulatory effects on angiogenesis, which may be beneficial for wound healing applications. Further studies are warranted to isolate the bioactive compounds responsible and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.