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Primary pro-inflammatory cytokines are a trio : tumor necrosis- a (TNF-a), interleukine-1β (IL-1β), and interleukine-6 (IL-6). These cytokines initiate and regulate the acut e-phase inflammatory response during infection, trauma, or stress and appear to play an important role in the immune process. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multi-functional mediator, which plays an important role in regulating various biological functions in vivo. NO production by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophages is essential for the defense mechanisms against microorganisms and tumor cells. However overexpression of iNOS by various stimuli, resulting in over- production of NO, contributes to the pathogenesis of septic shock and some inflammatory and auto-immune disease. Solvent fractions of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), which is cultivated in Jeju-Do, was assayed for their effects on TNF- a and IL-6 production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Hexane and ethylacetate (EtOAc) fraction of sage inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of TNF- a and IL-6 in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells at the concentration of 100 ㎍/ml. Also, incubation of RAW 264.7 cells with the fraction of hexane or EtOAc (50 ㎍/ml) inhibited the LPS induced nitrite accumulation and the LPS/IFN-γ induced iNOS protein. And this inhibition of iNOS protein is concordant with the inhibition of iNOS mRNA expression. Above results suggest that extract of sage may have anti- inflammatory activity through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), iNOS and NO.
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