Pseudocoptisine acetate is a quaternary alkaloid isolated from the tubers of Corydalis turtschaninovii,with anti-inflammatory properties.

Pseudocoptisine, a quaternary alkaloid with a benzylisoquinoline skeleton, which was isolated from the tubers of Corydalis turtschaninovii by examining its inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.?Pseudocoptisine caused dose-dependent reductions in the levels of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both protein and mRNA levels and concomitant decreases in PGE(2) and NO production.?In addition, it was found that pseudocoptisine suppressed the production and mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines, such as, TNF-alpha and IL-6.?Furthermore, molecular data revealed that pseudocoptisine inhibited the LPS-stimulated DNA binding activity and the transcription activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB).?Moreover, this effect was accompanied by decreases in the phosphorylation of inhibitory kappaB (IkappaB)-alpha and in the subsequent blocking of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus.?In addition, pseudocoptisine dose-dependently inhibited the phosphorylations of ERK and p38.