Anti-Angiogenic Activity of L-Type Voltage Gated Calcium Channel Blocker, Nifedipine: An In-Vitro and In-Vivo Study

Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels. A wealthy number of ion channels are found on the endothelial cells. These ion channels play a vital action in cell proliferation and in related angiogenesis. We aimed to investigate the effects of Nifedipine (L-Type voltage gated calcium channel blocker). The anti-angiogenic activities of Nifedipine was investigated by measuring its effects on number of branches formed, angiogenic score, number of sprouts formed, weight of sponge implanted, Hemoglobin content and histopathological studies by in-vitro (aortic ring assay) and in-vivo (sponge implantation method) methods. The test and standard drug (Bevacizumab) groups were compared with the control group using One-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc test, the Dennett’s test to compare mean of all the groups with the control mean. The results revealed that Nifedipine treatment led to significant inhibition of proliferation and related angiogenesis in the dose dependent manner and were quite comparable with the standard antiangiogenic drug Bevacizumab. These scientific findings indicate the clinical benefits of Nifedipine in pathological situations involving excessive angiogenesis. Negative regulation of cell cycle progression at various checkpoints and cell migration may be the underlying molecular mechanisms for antiangiogenic action.