Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of SMG on the in vitro and in vivo inflammatory reactions. In experiment I, in vitro tests, ethanol extract of SMG showed potent radical scavenging activity tested by DPPH(I,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hyrazyl) method and inhibited the lipopolysaccharide-induced gene expressions of interleukin-1${\beta}$, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (above 50$\%$ at a concentration of 50㎍/㎖) by the macrophage RAW 246.7 cells. Among the herbal ingredients of SMG, ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Glycyrrhiza glabra showed potent radical scavenging activity. And Glycyrrhiza glabra and Scutellaria baicalensis showed potent inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production. Especially, ethanol extract of Scutellaria baicalensis inhibited the gene expression of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$. In cyclooxygenase-2 assay, Scutellaria baicalensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra showed the potent inhibition of prostaglandin E2 generation. In experiment 2, in vivo tests, SMG showed inhibitory effects on vascular permeability (28.7$\%$) and leukocyte migration (11.5$\%$). These results mean that SMG has a anti-inflammatory effects by it's inhibitory effects of leukocyte migration and vascular permeability as well as it's inhibitory effects of lipopolysaccharide-induced gene expression of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, and radical scavenging activity. Therefore, I expect that SMG may be used as a effective drug for treatment on inflammation.