Development of an in vivo Evaluation System of Antioxidants for their Vascular Protective Activities using the Chick Embryonic Chorioallantoic Membrane

The drug discovery research of clinical-use antioxidants, which may control various vascular
disorders caused by the oxidative stress, is extremely important. We present the development of an
in vivo evaluation system of antioxidants for their vascular protective activities using the chick
embryonic chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). In the case of 12-days chick embryos, the topical
administration of 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH) induced their
vascular injuries against the CAM veins and venous capillaries but without substantial fatal damage.
Artepillin C, a potent natural antioxidant, did not show the chick embryo’s venous injury, and
pre-treatment with artepillin C would tend to protect the CAM veins injuries induced by the
post-administration of AAPH. These results suggest that artepillin C might be able to protect the
AAPH-induced vascular injury in in vivo. In conclusion, we showed the possibility of in vivo
evaluation system of antioxidants for their vascular protective activities using the chick embryo.