Effects of berberine on the expression of cytokines in the liver tissue of concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated mice. After the mice were gavaged (fed through the mouth via a tube) with solvent or 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg berberine for three days, they were injected intravenously with 20 mg/kg of concanavalin A (Con A). At 8 hours after Con A injection, the TNF-α (A), IFN-γ (B), IL-1β (C), IL-2 (D) and IL-10 (E) mRNA levels in liver tissue were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (n=6). ** P<0.01 vs. the control group, ##
P<0.01 vs. the Con A group.