Anti-inflammatory effects of a methanol extract from Pulsatilla koreana in lipopolysaccharide-exposed rats

To investigate the therapeutic effect of a Korean herbal medicinePulsatilla koreana as an anti-septic agent, anti-inflammatoryeffects of the herbal medicine were determined in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-exposed rats. Treatment with a methanol extractfrom Pulsatilla koreana significantly inhibited LPS-inducedinflammatory responses. Results from ELISA analysis showed thatPulsatilla koreana decreased the plasma and hepatic levels ofpro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α whileincreased the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 inLPS-exposed rats. Pulsatilla koreana also decreased the plasmalevels of other inflammatory mediators such as NO3-/NO2-,ICAM-1, PGE2, and CINC-1 in LPS-exposed rats. Although nosignificant effects were observed in the phagocytic activities, thedistribution of lymphocyte population was significantly shiftedby the treatment with Pulsatilla koreana. All together, Pulsatillakoreana exerts anti-inflammatory activities in the immunechallengedanimals implicating that this Korean herbal medicineis therapeutically useful for the treatment of inflammatorydiseases like sepsis.