Figure 2.

Arctigenin (ATG) decreased the IL‐1β–stimulated inflammatory cytokines. The human chondrocytes were pre‐treated with ATG (5, 10, 50 μmol/L) before the IL‐1β irritation. (A,B), The expressions of IL‐6, iNOS, TNF‐α and COX‐2 in mRNA level were assessed by the means of RT‐PCR. (C,D), The protein level and quantification analysis of iNOS and COX‐2 were measured by Western blot. (E,F), The protein level of IL‐6, TNF‐α, PGE2 and NO was assessed by ELISA. Data represented are the means ± SD #P < .05, ##P < .01, vs control group; *P < .05,**P < .01, vs IL‐1β–alone treatment group, n = 5