Saengmaeksan inhibits inflammatory mediators by suppressing RIP-2/caspase-1 activation

AbstractBackground and objectives: Saengmaeksan (SMS) is a Korean herbal prescription consisting of three different herbal drugs: Liriopis Tuber (tuber of Liriope platyphylla, Liliaceae), Ginseng Radix (root of Panax ginseng) and Schisandrae Fructus (fruit of Schisandra chinensis). SMS is commonly used in Korea to treat various diseases that involve the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. However, to date, the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of SMS is not clearly understood. In this study, we attempt to determine the effects of SMS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages.Methods: Cell viability was measured by using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by using Griess reagent. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels secreted by the cells were measured using a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of cyclooxygenase (CO...