Figure 3. Gentiolactone inhibits LPS-induced TNF-α mRNA expression.

RAW264.7 cells were cultured for 4 hours with LPS (100 ng/mL) and 100, 500 or 1000 µM gentiolactone. The mRNA levels of TNF-α (A), iNOS (B) and Cox-2 (C) were measured by real-time PCR. (D) TNF-α protein levels were measured with an ELISA assay. Plotted values represent the mean value ± SD from four independent cultures. *p<0.05, **p<0.01. Helenalin was used as a positive control.