Objective   To evaluate the effect of black rice anthocyanins on angiogenesis in transplanted tumor of human breast cancer MDA-MB-453 cells over-expressing HER-2/neu.    Methods   Twenty-four female BALB/c nude mice were used to establish transplanted tumor models with MDA-MB-453 cells. The mice were equally randomized into 4 groups including the control group

the VEGF group

the black rice anthocyanins group and the co-treatment group

with the intervention of VEGF and/or black rice anthocyanin-rich extract. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of nuclear antigen Ki-67 and factor Ⅷ related antigen in order to evaluate alternations of tumor cells growth ability and tumor microvessel density (MVD) respectively. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of tumor angiogenesis-related factors MMP-2

MMP-9 and uPA.     Results   Compared to the control group

statistically significant decrease was observed in the black rice anthocyanins group on items of tumor volume

MVD value and the expression levels of tumor angiogenesis-related factors

with each P value lower than 0.05. Also

statistically significant increase was observed in the VEGF group on the items described above

with each P value lower than 0.05. There are no significant differences between the co-treatment group and the control group on these items described above. On the other hand

significant decrease of these items described above in black rice anthocyanins group as well as the co-treatment group were observed in comparison against the VEGF group

with each P values lower than 0.05. Besides

the amount of cells with strong positive Ki-67 staining were dramatically increased in the VEGF group and decreased in the black rice anthocyanins group compared to the control group.     Conclusion   Black rice anthocyanins might inhibit the growth of transplanted tumor of human breast cancer via tumor angiogenesis repression.