Anti-inflammatory effects of YeongyoSeungma-tang

Ethnopharmacological relevance: YeongyoSeungma-tang which includes Fructus Forsythia, has been used in oriental traditional medicine for treatment of early smallpox and atopic dermatitis. Aim of the study: YeongyoSeungma-tang was carried out to investigate for anti-inflammatory effects. Materials and methods: YeongyoSeungma-tang was tested for anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) releases as well as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) expression using RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Results: YeongyoSeungma-tang significantly inhibited generation of NO (42% and 59% inhibition at doses of 5 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL, respectively), PGE(2) (46% and 80% inhibition at doses of 5 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL, respectively) and TNF-alpha (6% and 23% inhibition at doses of 5 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL, respectively) on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently in these observations, the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) enzyme was also inhibited by YeongyoSeungma-tang. However, YeongyoSeungma-tang did not show any influence on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2. The cream containing 0.075% YeongyoSeungma-tang showed good skin moisturizing effect without any irritation. Conclusion: The present study may support the fact that YeongyoSeungma-tang can have the good possibility as an anti-inflammatory agent for troubled skins. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.