• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.13-28
• /
• 2015

Objectives: To observe the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of Hyunbulikyung-tang aqueous extracts (HBLKT) and the possible synergic combination effects with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, piroxicam. Methods: Anti-inflammatory effects of HBLKT (yield=16.17%) were observed on LPS activated raw 264.7 cells based on $ED_{50}$ to cell viability, NO, $PGE_2$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 productions as compared with piroxicam, in the present study. In addition, the combination effects of HBLKT with piroxicam were observed after treatment of HBLKT 1/4 $ED_{50}$ + piroxicam 1/4 $ED_{50}$, 1/8 $ED_{50}$, 1/16 $ED_{50}$, 1/32 $ED_{50}$ and 1/64 $ED_{50}$ concentrations, respectively. Results: Significant (p<0.01 or p<0.05) increases of cell viabilities and decreases of NO, $PGE_2$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 cytokine releases were detected in HBLKT 1/4 $ED_{50}$ + piroxicam 1/4 $ED_{50}$, 1/8 $ED_{50}$, 1/16 $ED_{50}$ and 1/32 $ED_{50}$ concentration co-treatment as compared with each of single 1/4 $ED_{50}$ concentration of piroxicam and HBLKT treatments, respectively. Although significant (p<0.01 or p<0.05) increases of cell viabilities and decreases of NO, $PGE_2$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 cytokine releases were also demonstrated in piroxicam 1/64 $ED_{50}$ + HBLKT 1/4 $ED_{50}$ co-treatment as compared with LPS control, no significant changes were detected as compared with each of single 1/4 $ED_{50}$ concentration of piroxicam and HBLKT treatments, in this experiment. Conclusions: Hyunbulikyung-tang showed cell protective and anti-inflammatory effects against LPS activated raw 264.7 cells. It, therefore, expected that HBLKT will be showed favorable effects to relieve dysmenorrhea related to over expressed inflammatory cytokines, and it also expected that the clinical dosages of piroxicam can be reduced as 1/8 levels as combination with HBLKT.