Evidence for anti-inflammatory activity of captopril

ABSTRACT

Captopril is an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] that is largely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Several previous studies have demonstrated that exhibits a wide variety of biological activities, including an anti-inflammatory action. The present study was investigated the efficacy of captopril on inflammation, in two rat models, carrageenan- induced paw edema and trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid [TNBS]-induced colonic inflammation. In treatment groups, the rats were treated with captopril [0.1,0.5 and 1 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally]. The drug was given 5 min after induction of paw edema or colitis and the treatment was continued daily for 3 days. Daily measurement of paw edema was done. Three days after the induction of colitis, all rats were decapitated. The distal colon was isolated and the mucosal lesions were scored at macroscopical levels. Malondialdehyde [MDA], glutathione [GSH] levels and myeloperoxidase [MPO] activity were assessed in tissue samples. Tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF- alpha] was measured in the serum. Captopril treatment was found to be beneficial in all parameters in dose dependent manner. In conclusion, sulphydryl ACE inhibitor, captopril seems to be effective in both models of inflammation at least at the doses tested in this study