YPFS induces iNOS expression in macrophages.

<p>(<b>A</b>): Cultured macrophages were treated with 1 mg/mL of the single herbal extracts and YPFS (inset) for 24 hours, and then the expression of iNOS was determined using RT-PCR, with GAPDH serving as the internal control. LPS (1 µg/mL) was used the positive control. (<b>B</b>): Effects of herbal extracts on the expression of iNOS protein in cultured macrophages in the presence and absence of the NF-κB-specific inhibitor BAY 11-7082 (5 µM). (<b>C</b>): Macrophages were treated with YPFS for 24 hours after first incubating the cells for 3 hours with or without the NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 (5 µM). Cell lysates were collected, diluted to equal protein concentrations, and analyzed by means of western blotting. (<b>D</b>): Macrophages were treated with 1 mg/mL of the individual herbs (AR, AMR, and SR) for 24 hours after first incubating the cells with or without BAY 11-7082 (5 µM) for 3 hours. Results in (C) and (D) were calculated using the western blots shown in (B). Values were normalized using the internal control GAPDH and are expressed as fold-increases relative to basal reading (untreated cultures); mean ± SD are shown, <i>n</i> = 5, each with triplicate samples. *<i>p</i><0.05; **<i>p</i><0.01; ***<i>p</i><0.001.