Enhanced Expression of VEGF by Centella asiatica in Gingival Fibroblasts

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) has been used in traditional medicine in Thailand for the treatment of chronic wound. Angiogenesis is anticipated during wound healing. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a potent direct angiogenic factor. To date little research work has targeted the effect of C. asiatica on angiogenesis. Objective: This study focused on the influence of C. asiatica on VEGF mRNA and its protein expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Methods: Dried ground leaves of C. asiatica were exhaustively extracted with 80% acetone in a Soxhlet apparatus for 10 min. Then the resulting acetone extract was concentrated under reduced pressure. HGFs were treated with different concentrations of C. asiatica extracts for 72 hr. Cell viability was determined indirectly by MTT-based cytotoxicity assay. To investigate the effect of C. asiatica on angiogenesis, we exposed HGFs to C. asiatica extracts for 8 hr, and evaluated VEGF by RT-PCR and ELISA. Results: C. asiatica extracts (1.25 – 200 microgram/ml) did not cause cytotoxicity in HGFs. HGFs constitutively produced VEGF. C. asiatica at a concentration of 200 microgram/ml induced a 1.25-fold increase in VEGF mRNA expression in HGFs. C. asiatica at the concentrations of 50, 100, or 200 microgram/ml demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in VEGF protein expression. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the enhancement of chronic wound healing by C. asiatica might be due to the promotion of angiogenesis during wound repair as a result of an increase in VEGF production.