Sanguinarine‐Chelerythrine Fraction of <i>Coptis chinensis</i> Exerts Anti‐inflammatory Activity in Carrageenan Paw Oedema Test in Rats and Reveals Reduced Gastrotoxicity
Maciej Danielewski, Sylwia Zielińska, Agnieszka Matuszewska, Wojciech Słupski, Maciej Włodarczyk, Izabela Jęśkowiak, Benita Wiatrak, Krzysztof Kowalski, A. Jezierska-Domaradzka, Piotr Ziółkowski, Adam Szeląg, Beata Nowak
Abstract
Inflammatory diseases are a common therapeutic problem and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs are not deprived of side effects, of which ulcerogenic activity is one of the most frequent. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory activity of the sanguinarine‐chelerythrine (SC) fraction of Coptis chinensis and its influence on the integrity of gastric mucosa. The study was conducted on sixty male rats randomly divided into six experimental groups: two control groups (a negative control group CON and a positive control group CAR); three groups receiving an investigational fraction of C. chinensis (1, 5, 10 mg/kg i.g. ) named SC 1 , SC 5 , and SC 10 , respectively; and a group receiving indomethacin (IND) (10 mg/kg i.g. ) as a reference drug. In all animals, the carrageenan‐induced paw oedema was measured; PGE 2 release, TNF α production, and MMP‐9 concentration in inflamed tissue were determined. Additionally, the macroscopic and microscopic damage of gastric mucosa was evaluated. Administration of SC dose‐dependently inhibited the second phase of carrageenan rat paw oedema and PGE 2 release, decreased the production of TNF α , and reduced the concentration of MMP‐9, and the efficacy of the highest dose was comparable to the effect of IND. Contrary to IND, no gastrotoxic activity of SC was detected. The investigated sanguinarine‐chelerythrine fraction of C. chinensis seems to be a promising candidate for further research on new anti‐inflammatory and analgesic drugs characterized with a safer gastric profile compared to existing NSAIDs.