Rutecarpine
Rutecarpine or rutaecarpine is a COX-2 inhibitor isolated from Tetradium ruticarpum, a tree native to China. It is classified as a non-basic alkaloid.
In contrast to synthetic COX-2 inhibitors like etoricoxib and celecoxib, rutecarpine does not appear to cause negative effects on the cardiovascular system.
Metabolism
Microsome studies suggest that rutaecarpine may be at least a weak inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 enzymes. At the same time, it is believed to be a strong inducer of CYP1A2 and CYP1A1.Rutecarpine metabolism is complex and proceeds along several routes, primarily involving the addition of a single hydroxyl group by CYP3A4. Six monohydroxylated and four dihydroxylated metabolites have been identified. To a much lesser extent, rutecarpine may be metabolized by CYP2C9 and CYP1A2, according to liver microsome studies.