Abstract
Objective : Recently interest of fermented herb medicine has increased in Oriental medicine. Herb medicine fermented in a proper condition resultingly has better or new virtue by microbe. This study was designed to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of herbal decoction and fermented herbal decoction in Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (Huanglian fiedu-tang; HHT). Methods : The effects of HHT and FHHT on anti-inflammation were measured by production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokine productions including TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. Results : 1. Cell viability in three doses of HHT extract (0.01, 0.05 and 0.10 mg/ml) and two doses of FHHT extract (0.01, 0.05 mg/ml) was more than 70% and 80% each. 2. In RAW 264.7 cells, LPS displayed significant stimulatory effects on the production of NO. However, both HHT, FHHT showed significant inhibitory effects on the production of NO. 3. Pre-treatment by HHT in a various concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50mg/ml) reduced the elevated production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, IL-1${\beta}$ mRNA, IL-6 mRNA. More than 0.05mg/ml concentrations of HHT reduced the production of IL-6. And TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$ level of mouse serum reduced in a various dose(0.1, 0.5, 1.0g/kg). 4. Pre-treatment by FHHT in a various concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50mg/ml) reduced the elevated production of TNF-${\alpha}$. More than 0.05mg/ml concentrations of FHHT reduced the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA. 0.1, 0.50mg/ml concentrations of FHHT reduced the production of IL-6. And IL-1${\beta}$ level of mouse serum reduced in a various dose(0.1, 0.5, 1.0g/kg). Conclusions : These results indicated that both HHT and FHHT could have anti-inflammatory capacity by inhibiting the production of NO and cytokines in vitro. But HHT has more strong anti-inflammatory effects than that of FHHT in broad outlines.