title: Cheongsangbangpung-tang ameliorated the acute inflammatory response via the inhibition of NF-κB activation and MAPK phosphorylation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cheongsangbangpung-tang (CBT) is a traditional herbal formula used in Eastern Asia to treat heat-related diseases and swellings in the skin. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of cheongsangbangpung-tang extract (CBTE) both in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in vitro effects of CBTE on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammation-related proteins were examined in RAW 264.7 cells. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) were measured with the Griess reagent. Inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Inflammation-related proteins were detected by Western blot. The effect of CBTE on acute inflammation in vivo was evaluated using carrageenan (CA)-induced paw oedema. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect, paw oedema volume, thickness of the dorsum and ventrum pedis skin, number of infiltrated inflammatory cells, and number of COX-2-, iNOS-immunoreactive cells were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an in vitro study, CBTE inhibited the production of NO and PGE2and also decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumuor necrosis factor-α. In LPS-activated macrophages, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling is a pivotal pathway in the inflammatory process. These plausible molecular mechanisms increased the phosphorylation of I-κBα, while the activation of NF-κB and the phosphorylation of MAPK by LPS were blocked by CBTE treatment. In our in vivo study, a CA-induced acute oedematous paw inflammation rat model was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of CBTE. CBTE significantly reduced the increases in paw swelling, skin thicknesses, infiltrated inflammatory cells and iNOS-, COX-2 positive cells induced by CA injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, CBTE should favourably inhibit the acute inflammatory response through modulation of NF-κB activation and MAPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, the inhibition of CBTE in rat paw oedema induced by CA is considered to be clear evidence that CBTE may be a useful source to treat inflammation.
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.|Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Formulation, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hwangbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Rok
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.|Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Formulation, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sae Kwang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.|Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Formulation, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Il Je
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.|Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Formulation, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea. jeesy@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea. haany@dhu.ac.kr.|Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Formulation, Daegu Haany University, 1 Haanydaero, Gyeongsan, 38610, Republic of Korea. haany@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sook Jahr
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Cheongsangbangpung-tang; Inflammation; Mitogen-activated protein kinase; Nuclear factor-kappaB; Paw oedema