FIG. 1.

SOAE inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines in RAW cells. RAW cells were pretreated with SOAE followed by treatment with LPS. Following 24 h of incubation, RNA was isolated. The Mouse Atherosclerosis PCR array (Qiagen) was carried out with these samples. Relative expression levels of genes in LPS (A, left panel) and LPS+SOAE (A, right panel) are plotted against control in the scatter plot. Genes that were distinctly downregulated (B) and upregulated (C) are represented as bar diagrams. Real-time PCR analysis was performed for IL-1α (D), IL-6 (E), and TNF-α (F). ELISA to detect mouse IL-6 (G) and TNF-α (H) secretion into the medium was also performed. SOAE significantly attenuated the expression of LPS-induced inflammatory markers. Results are represented as mean±SE from more than three independent experiments. *P<.05. ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay; IL, interleukin; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SOAE, sesame oil aqueous extract; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/jmf