Objective: To investigate the effects of the ethanol extract from Schizocapsa plantaginea on the growth and angiogenesis of SMMC-7721 cell xenografts in nude mice and the antitumor mechanism of S. plantaginea. Method: S. plantaginea tubers were extracted by reflux in 80% ethanol. The human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell model was established in BALB/c nude mice and the animals were randomly divided into model group

sorafenib group and high

medium

low dosage of S. plantaginea groups. The animals in S. plantaginea groups were administered 107

71

54 mg·kg-1·d-1 the ethanol extract and in sorafenib group were administered 30 mg·kg-1·d-1sorafenib by gavage once daily for 21 days. The animals in model group did not perform any treatment. The tumor growth was observed in xenografts model in nude mice and angiogenesis was observed by examining the expression of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. Result: The tumor weight and the relative tumor volume in high and medium dosage of S. plantaginea groups and sorafenib group was significantly lower than that in model group. And the tumor inhibitory rates of those three groups were 47.71%

21.27% and 51.75%. The levels of microvessel density (MVD) and VEGF in tumor tissue were also significantly lower (P<0.01) in high dosage of S. plantaginea group and sorafenib group than in model group. The MVD in medium dosage of S. plantaginea group was less (P<0.05) than that in model group. Conclusion: The ethanol extract from S. plantaginea can inhibit the growth of SMMC-7721 cell xenografts in nude mice and angiogenesis in tumor tissue

and its underlying mechanism is maybe due to its ability to reduce the expression of VEGF.