BIOMARKERS OF ANGIOGENESIS IN WOUND HEALING AND CANCER: ROLE OF BOTANICALS AND PHYTOCHEMICALS

Angiogenesis, formation of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels, is essential for tumor growth, progression and metastasis as well as for wound healing. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive components in plant based diets have the potential to modulate angiogenesis. Pre-clinical studies involving phytochemicals like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol and curcumin have revealed their angiogenesis-modulatory effect. The way these plant products regulate angiogenesis depends on the environment and cell type on which they are acting. The biphasic effect of phytochemicals on angiogenesis can be exploited, for they can be used as beneficial agents to either promote angiogenesis in wound healing or abrogate vessel formation in tumors. In this review a few prominent phytochemicals and their role in angiogenesis have been discussed with reference to their beneficial effect in wound healing and cancer. This review also suggests some of the molecular markers of angiogenesis that can be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these promising agents.