Figure 1.

Emodin inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production concentration-dependently. (A) Cells were preincubated with emodin for 30 min and then treated with LPS (0.1 µg·mL⁻¹) for 4 h. mRNA expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and CCL2) was detected by reverse transcription-PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. (B) Cells were preincubated with emodin or the NF-κB inhibitor, BAY11-7082 (40 µM) for 30 min and then treated with LPS (0.1 µg·mL⁻¹) for 5 h. The protein expression level of IL-6 and CCL2 were detected by elisa. Values represent mean ± SD of three replicate experiments. *P < 0.05 for emodin or NF-κB inhibitor versus dimethyl sulfoxide.