Premium
Anti‐inflammatory properties of cryptolepine
Author(s) -
Olajide Olumayokun A.,
Ajayi Abayomi M.,
Wright Colin W.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2794
Subject(s) - pharmacology , in vivo , carrageenan , alkaloid , anti inflammatory , nitric oxide , analgesic , pharmacognosy , chemistry , in vitro , medicine , biochemistry , biological activity , biology , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract Cryptolepine is the major alkaloid of the West African shrub, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta . Cryptolepine has been shown to inhibit nitric oxide production, and DNA binding of Nuclear Factor‐kappa B following inflammatory stimuli in vitro . In order to validate the anti‐inflammatory property of this compound in vivo , we investigated its effects on a number of animal models of inflammation. Cryptolepine (10–40 mg/kg i.p.) produced significant dose‐dependent inhibition of the carrageenan‐induced rat paw oedema, and carrageenan‐induced pleurisy in rats. These effects were compared with those of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug indomethacin (10 mg/kg). At doses of 10–40 mg/kg i.p., cryptolepine inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced microvascular permeability in mice in a dose‐related fashion. Oral administration of up to 40 mg/kg of the compound for four consecutive days did not induce gastric lesion formation in rats. Analgesic activity was also exhibited by cryptolepine through a dose‐related (10–40 mg/kg i.p.) inhibition of writhing induced by i.p. administration of acetic acid in mice. The results of this study reveal that cryptolepine possesses in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.