title: Anti-inflammatory properties of cryptolepine.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olajide705@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Olumayokun A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Olajide
authors.forename: Abayomi M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.forename: Colin W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D031106:Cryptolepis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011804:Quinolines; C024015:cryptolepine; D002351:Carrageenan; D019342:Acetic Acid; D007213:Indomethacin