YPFS induces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cultured macrophages.

<p>Cultured macrophages were treated with the herbal extracts for 24-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 β, IL-6 and TNFα), respectively. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were revealed by real time PCR and multiplexed bead-based immunoassay. GAPDH was used as an internal control for normalization in RT-PCR. The protein expression level was normalized to total protein content of each cell culture well. LPS (1 µg/mL) served as a positive control. (<b>A</b>): The mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα mRNAs under the treatments of various dosages of YPFS, up to 3 mg/mL. (<b>B</b>): The mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα under the treatments of AR, AMR, SR and YPFS extracts, all at 1 mg/mL. Values are expressed as the fold of increase to basal reading (untreated cultures), and in Mean ± SD, where <i>n</i> = 4, each with triplicate samples. *p<0.05; * * p<0.01.