Citreorosein (CIT), an anthraquinone component of Polygoni cuspidati (P. cuspidati) radix, suppressed gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying CIT inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine production, its effects on the activation of both nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were assessed. CIT attenuated phosphorylation of the MAPKs including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAP kinase and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, CIT strongly inhibited DNA binding activity of NF-κB through the inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor of kappaB (IκB) as well as activator protein-1 (AP)-1 through the reduction of phosphorylation of c-Jun. These results demonstrate that CIT inhibits proinflammatory cytokines production through the inhibition of both MAPKs and AKT-mediated IκB kinase (IKK) phosphorylation and subsequent inhibition of transcription factor NF-κB activation, thereby attenuating the production of proinflammatory cytokines.