title: Anti-inflammatory effect and action mechanisms of traditional herbal formula Gamisoyo-san in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gamisoyo-san (GMSYS) is a traditional herbal formula used to treat insomnia, dysmenorrhea, and infertility in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and action mechanisms of GMSYS in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory effects of GMSYS were investigated using nitric oxide (NO) assay and ELISAs for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The anti-inflammatory action mechanisms of GMSYS were evaluated using Western blotting for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and activation of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  GMSYS significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6 compared with the vehicle-treated cells. GMSYS consistently downregulated the expression of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA induced by LPS. In addition, pretreatment with GMSYS suppressed the LPS-induced activation of NF-κB and MAPKs such as p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the anti-inflammatory effects of GMSYS in RAW 264.7 macrophages are associated with inhibition of the release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines through the suppression of MAPK and NF-κB activation. These findings suggest that GMSYS may be a useful therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ohn Soon
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sae-Rom
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Seob
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.|Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine/Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeun-Kyoo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea. sjijeong@kiom.re.kr.|Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea. sjijeong@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Soo-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Cytokine; Gamisoyo-san; Inflammatory mediator; Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs); Nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB)