Anti-inflammatory effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine

Fangchinoline and tetrandrine are the major alkaloids from Stephania tetran drae S. Moore which has been used traditionally for the treatment of inflam matory diseases in oriental countries including Korea. Both fangchinoline a nd tetrandrine showed anti-inflammatory effects on mouse ear edema induced by croton oil. In addition, the effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine on cyclooxygenase, murine interleukin-5 (mIL-5) and human interleukin-6 (hIL- 6) were examined in vitro to investigate the anti-inflammatory action mecha nisms. One hundred micromolar of fangchinoline showed 35% of inhibition on cyclooxygenase, but the same concentration of tetrandrine did not show any inhibition. On the other hand, 12.5 mu M of tetrandrine exhibited 95% of in hibition on mIL-5 activity, while fangchinoline did not show any effects. H owever, 4 mu M of fangchinoline and 6 mu M of tetrandrine showed 63 and 86% of inhibitions on hIL-6 activity, respectively. These results suggest that biochemical mechanisms of fangchinoline and tetrandrine on anti-inflammati on are significantly different even though they are similar in chemical str ucture. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.