Figure 2.

Inhibitory effects of epicatechin gallate (ECG) and kuraridin on inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα) production and cytotoxicity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with (a) Peptidoglycan (PGN) and (b) Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) (n = 4). Dexamethasone at 1 μg/mL was used as positive control to inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines. PGN (0.1 μg/mL) or SEB (10 μg/mL) was used to stimulate the PBMC to produce cytokines. Kuraridin or ECG (4–64 μg/mL) was added to the cells and the cell supernatant was collected for cytokine assays. (c) Cellular toxicity (XTT assay) of epicatechin gallate (ECG) and kuraridin on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (n = 3). Significant results by comparing the drug treatment groups with the drug-free control are indicated (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001).