Figure 3.

Influences of SPE on the production of proinflammatory cytokines and related protein expression. Mouse macrophages were induced with LPS in the presence of SPE for 16 h. Culture supernatant was removed and centrifuged to remove particulates and analyzed for production of these cytokines: (a) NO; (b) PGE₂; (c) IL-6; and (d) TNF-α. (e) The expression levels of iNOS and COX2 were analyzed by western blot. (f) The band intensity of iNOS or COX2 was normalized with β-actin. ^∗p < 0.05 and ^∗∗p < 0.01 versus LPS alone group.