Abstract
Angiogenesis is a strictly controlled process in the healthy, adult human body. It
is regulated by a variety of endogenous angiogenic and angiostatic factors. It is
only switched on, e.g., during wound healing. Pathological angiogenesis occurs, for
example, in cancer, chronic inflammation, or atherosclerosis. Angiogenesis inhibitors
are able to interfere with various steps of angiogenesis, like basement destruction
of blood vessels, proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, or the lumen formation.
Among the known angiogenesis inhibitors compounds derived from natural sources, like
flavonoids, sulphated carbohydrates, or triterpenoids are playing a prominent role.
Key words
Angiogenesis inhibitor - tumour - chronic inflammation - atherosclerosis - plants
- microorganisms
