Anti-inflammatory effects of cavidine in vitro and in vivo, a selective COX-2 inhibitor in LPS-induced peritoneal macrophages of mouse.

Cavidine is an isoquinoline alkaloid which is isolated from Corydalis impatiens. In traditional Tibetan herb, C. impatiens has been widely used for treatment of skin injuries, hepatitis, cholecystitis, and scabies. The present study aimed to evaluate its anti-inflammatory effect and investigate the mechanisms underlying this anti-inflammatory action. We used different inflammation model animals and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine peritoneal macrophages to examine the anti-inflammatory function of cavidine. Results indicated pretreatment with cavidine (i.p.) decreased xylene-induced ear edema, formaldehyde-induced paw edema, leukocyte number, and the level of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in acetic acid-induced peritonitis in mice. The data also demonstrated that cavidine significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and NO production in peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, cavidine regulated the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) instead of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) at protein levels. These results suggested that cavidine is a selective COX-2 inhibitor which possesses an anti-inflammatory activity.