Depudecin, a microbial metabolite containing two epoxide groups, exhibits anti-angiogenic activity in vivo.

Depudecin, a microbial metabolite containing two epoxide groups, was tested for its anti-angiogenic activity in an in vivo assay system involving the chorioallantoic membrane of growing chick embryo. The microbial metabolite inhibited embryonic angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner with an ID50 of 320 ng (1.5 nmol) per egg. It also affected the growth of vascular endothelial cells, a key event in the process of angiogenesis in vivo. These results suggest that depudecin could be promising as an anti-angiogenic agent and that its anti-angiogenic action involves an inhibitory effect on vascular endothelial cell growth.