Effect of AS-IV on inflammatory cytokine production in the serum. The levels of (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-1β and (C) IL-6 were measured by ELISA kits after 4 days of treatment. Data are presented as the means ± standard error of the mean in each group (n=10), **P<0.01, vs. the control group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01, vs. the model group. AS-IV, astragaloside IV; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-interleukin; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis.