Background: Angiogenesis is an essential process during development. Eugenol has been used to treat diverse diseases for many years. The purpose of the present study was to examine the anti-angiogenic effect of eugenol on a Wistar rat aortic ring.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rat aorta rings were cultured in a collagen matrix. After observation of vessel sprouting, the samples were allocated into control and experimental groups treated with different concentrations (1, 2, 4 and 8 mM) of eugenol and three samples were considered for each concentration. After 24 and 48 hours from treatment, all samples were photographed and the number and length of blood vessels were measured using Image J software.

Results: The mean number and length of blood vessels in the experimental groups 2, 3 and 4 were (16.36±0.57,171.31±1.56 mm), (11.66±1.15, 163.03±1.88 mm), and (6.66±0.57, 140.35±0.59 mm) respectively at 24 hours and (15.33±1.15, 171.32±0.47 mm), (9.33±1.15, 134.91±0.91 mm) and (2.66±1.15, 100.67±0.59 mm) at 48 hours after treatment with eugenol which showed a significant decrease in a dose- and time-dependent manner compared to the control group (18.66±0.57, 195/79±3/35 mm) (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Eugenol dose and time-dependently inhibits angiogenesis in rat aortic ring model therefore, it can be considered in studies related to cancer and pathological conditions associated with angiogenesis.