Objective:To elucidate the mechanism of anti inflammatory action of
Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD).Methods:An acute inflammatory
air pouch was established in mice by s.c.injecting air and 1% carrageenan.A mouse endotoxeamia induced by lipopolysaccharide was also used.Splenocyte proliferation was quantified with 3 (4,5 dimethyl thiazol 2 yl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)colorimetery.NO - 2 concentration was examined by a Griess reagent and interleukin 1 activity was evaluated in thymocyte proliferation.Results:HJD
significantly inhibited the leukocyte infiltration and PGE 2 production in the mouse air pouch model.In the in vitro assay,HJD significantly inhibited concanavalin A(Con A) induced transformation of spleen cells isolated from the endotoxeamia mice,but did not influence that from the normal mice. HJD did not affact Con A induced interleukin 2 production in splenocytes in either normal or endotoxeamia mice.HJD remarkably reduced interleukin 1 and NO production in peritoneal macrophages elicited by lipopol ysaccharide.Conclusion:HJD displays an anti inflammatory effect mainly through inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines including IL 1,NO and PGE 2.