Effects of Red Ginseng-Ejung-tang Water Extract on Cytokine Production in LPS-induced Mouse Macrophages

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of Red Ginseng-Ejung-tang Water Extract (ER) on cytokine production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: Levels of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-2, IL-12p70, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were measured by high-throughput multiplex bead array cytokine assay based on xMAP (multi-analyte profiling beads) technology. Results: ER significantly decreased levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-2, IL-12p70, VEGF, and MCP-1 for 24 hrs incubation at the concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (P < 0.05). But ER did not exert significant effects on production of MIP-2, KC, TNF-α, and GM-CSF in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that ER has an anti-inflammatory property related with its inhibition of cytokine production in LPS-induced macrophages.