Anti-inflammatory Effects of Sanhuang-Siwu-Tang in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophages and BV2 Microglial Cells

Sanhuang-Siwu-Tang (SST), composed of seven medicinal herbs, is a well-known herbal formula used for the treatment of gynecologic diseases. To expand the clinical use of SST, we explored the anti-inflammatory or anti-neuroinflammatory effects of SST water extract in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and BV2 microglial cells. According to HPLC analysis, the main components of SST were from Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, and Paeoniae Radix. SST significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory mediators including lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as well as protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and BV2 microglial cells. Furthermore, these anti-inflammatory or anti-neuroinflammatory effects of SST were mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase-related proteins (MAPK) and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-related proteins. Overall, this study demonstrated that SST is a potential therapeutic formula for the prevention or treatment of inappropriate inflammation, neuroinflammation, or neurodegenerative diseases.