Anti-inflammatory effect of So-Pung-Tang, a Korean traditional prescription for cerebral infarction patients

J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Dec 3;114(3):425-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.08.041. Epub 2007 Sep 1.

Abstract

So-Pung-Tang (Sopung), a prescription composed of 14 herbal mixtures, has been widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarction in Oriental Medicine. However, the mechanisms by which the formula affects on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral infarction patients remain unknown yet. The levels of secretory protein of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interlukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6, were significantly increased in both THP-1 differentiated macrophage-like cells (THP-1/M) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients after stimulation. However, pretreatment with Sopung markedly inhibited the secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-6, but not IL-1beta, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1/M cells and PBMCs treated with LPS and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Furthermore, Sopung significantly inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not p38 in THP-1/M cells. These data indicate that Sopung may be beneficial in the cessation of inflammatory processes of cerebral infarction through suppression of ERK1/2 and JNK activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cerebral Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Korea
  • Lipopolysaccharides / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Medicine, East Asian Traditional*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases