(A and B) Human primary hepatocytes were pre-treated with vehicle, RIF, carapin, santonin or isokobusone (10 μM each) for 24 h before the addition of 20 μg/ml LPS for 6 h. Total RNA was isolated and the expression of iNOS (A) and MCP-1 (B) was determined by real-time PCR. Data were normalized to cyclophilin expression and expressed as fold change over controls. *, P < 0.05, vs LPS alone treatment groups. N = 3 for each group.