Effects of the acetylene compound from Atractylodes rhizome on experimental gastric ulcers induced by active oxygen species

Effects of Atractylodes lancea extracts on intestinal flora and serum metabolites in mice with intestinal dysbacteriosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the effect of an extract of Atractylodes lancea (A. lancea) on antibiotics-induced intestinal tract disorder and the probable therapeutic mechanisms employed by this extract to ameliorate these disorders.

METHODS

Three days after acclimatization, nine male and nine female specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice were randomly assigned into three groups: Group C (normal saline), Group M (antibiotic: cefradine + gentamicin), and Group T (antibiotic + A. lancea extract). Each mouse in Groups M and T received intragastric (i.g.) gavage antibiotics containing cefradine and gentamicin sulfate (0.02 ml/g^-1/D^-1) for 7 days. A. lancea extract (0.02 ml/g^-1/D^-1) was administered by i.g. gavage to Group T mice for 7 days following the cessation of antibiotic therapy. Group M received an equivalent volume of normal saline for 7 days, while Group C received an equivalent volume of normal saline for 14 days. Afterwards, we collected mouse feces to assess changes in intestinal microbiota by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequencing and metabolomics. In addition, serum samples were gathered and analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LS-MS). Finally, we performed a correlation analysis between intestinal microbiota and metabolites.

RESULTS

After treatment with antibiotic, the richness and diversity of the flora, numbers of wall-breaking bacteria and Bacteroidetes, and the numbers of beneficial bacteria decreased, while the numbers of harmful bacteria increased. After i.g. administration of A. lancea extract, the imbalance of microbial flora began to recover. Antibiotics primarily influence the metabolism of lipids, steroids, peptides, organic acids, and carbohydrates, with lipid compounds ranking first. Arachidonic acid (AA), arginine, and proline have relatively strong effects on the metabolisms of antibiotic-stressed mice. Our findings revealed that A. lancea extract might restore the metabolism of AA and L-methionine. The content of differential metabolites detected in the serum of Group T mice was comparable to that in the serum of Group C mice, but significantly different from that of Group M mice. Compared to putative biomarkers in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, it was found that altered metabolites, such as amino acids, glycerol, and phospholipids, were primarily associated with the metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

The effective mechanisms of A. lancea extract in regulating the disorder of intestinal flora in mice are related to the mechanisms of A. lancea. It could relate to lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. These results will provide a basis for further explaining the mechanism by which A. lancea regulats intestinal flora.

Study on the mechanism of Yupingfeng powder in the treatment of immunosuppression based on UPLC⁃QTOF⁃MS, network pharmacology and molecular biology verification

AIMS

The current study aims to investigate the effect of Yupingfeng (YPF) powder on immunosuppression, and explore the possible mechanisms.

MAIN METHODS

Firstly, the monomer components of YPF powder were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS combined with UNIFI automatic analysis platform, then the mechanism of YPF on immunosuppressive treatment was investigated using network pharmacological method, and finally the prediction was verified in a Candida albicans (Can)-induced immunosuppressive BALB/c mouse model.

KEY FINDINGS

98 monomer compounds in YPF were obtained. Through virtual analysis and screening on the oral utilization and drug likeness properties of the components, 47 effective components were got. 9 core targets obtained were enriched in IL-17 signaling pathway. In the mouse model, YPF could reduce the number of Can and alleviate Can-induced inflammation in the kidney effectively, upregulate Can-induced low proportion of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ of splenic lymphocytes, and increase Can-induced low activity of IL-17 pathway.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results demonstrate that YPF could improve the immunity of Can-induced immunosuppression in BALB/c mice through upregulating the activity of IL-17 pathway.

Natural Products and Extracts as Xantine Oxidase Inhibitors - A Hope for Gout Disease?

Xanthine oxidase (EC 1.17.3.2) (XO) is one of the main enzymatic sources that create reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the living system. It is a dehydrogenase enzyme that performs electron transfer to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), while oxidizing hypoxanthin, which is an intermediate compound in purine catabolism, first to xanthine and then to uric acid. XO turns into an oxidant enzyme that oxidizes thiol groups under certain stress conditions in the tissue. The last metabolic step, in which hypoxanthin turns into uric acid, is catalyzed by XO. Uric acid, considered a waste product, can cause kidney stones and gouty-type arthritis as it is crystallized, when present in high concentrations. Thus, XO inhibitors are one of the drug classes used against gout, a purine metabolism disease that causes urate crystal storage in the joint and its surroundings caused by hyperuricemia. Urate-lowering therapy includes XO inhibitors that reduce uric acid production as well as uricosuric drugs that increase urea excretion. Current drugs that obstruct uric acid synthesis through XO inhibition are allopurinol, febuxostat, and uricase. However, since the side effects, safety and tolerability problems of some current gout medications still exist, intensive research is ongoing to look for new, effective, and safer XO inhibitors of natural or synthetic origins for the treatment of the disease. In the present review, we aimed to assess in detail XO inhibitory capacities of pure natural compounds along with the extracts from plants and other natural sources via screening Pubmed, Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and Google Academic. The data pointed out to the fact that natural products, particularly phenolics such as flavonoids (quercetin, apigenin, and scutellarein), tannins (agrimoniin and ellagitannin), chalcones (melanoxethin), triterpenes (ginsenoside Rd and ursolic acid), stilbenes (resveratrol and piceatannol), alkaloids (berberin and palmatin) have a great potential for new XO inhibitors capable of use against gout disease. In addition, not only plants but other biological sources such as microfungi, macrofungi, lichens, insects (silk worms, ants, etc) seem to be the promising sources of novel XO inhibitors.

Atractylodis Rhizoma: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR), mainly includes Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (A. lancea) and Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. (A. chinensis) is widely used in East Asia as a diuretic and stomachic drug, for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, digestive disorders, night blindness, and influenza as it contains a variety of sesquiterpenoids and other components of medicinal importance.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

A systematic summary on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and quality control of AR was presented to explore the future therapeutic potential and scientific potential of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of the literature was performed by consulting scientific databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Baidu Scholar, Springer, PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, etc. Plant taxonomy was confirmed to the database "The Plant List".

RESULTS

Over 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from AR, notably sesquiterpenoids and alkynes. Various pharmacological activities have been demonstrated, especially improving gastrointestinal function and thus allowed to assert most of the traditional uses of AR.

CONCLUSIONS

The researches on AR are extensive, but gaps still remain. The molecular mechanism, structure-activity relationship, potential synergistic and antagonistic effects of these components need to be further elucidated. It is suggested that further studies should be carried out in the aspects of comprehensive evaluation of the quality of medicinal materials, understanding of the "effective forms" and "additive effects" of the pharmacodynamic substances based on the same pharmacophore of TCM, and its long-term toxicity in vivo and clinical efficacy.

An ethanol extract of the rhizome of Atractylodes chinensis exerts anti-gastritis activities and inhibits Akt/NF-κB signaling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The rhizome of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) kodiz (Compositae) has traditionally been used to treat inflammatory disorders such as arthritis and stomach ache, but scanted report has been issued on its anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here, we investigated the anti-gastritis activities and explored the mechanism of action of an ethanolic extract of the herb (Ac-EE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ac-EE was prepared with 95% ethanol. To determine its in vivo effects, we employed an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis rat model. We used a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage model for in vitro assays. Griess and MTT assays were used to measure nitric oxide (NO) production and cell viability, respectively. We used real-time PCR to determine mRNA levels. To measure prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production we used a PGE₂ EIA kit. To estimate protein levels and enzyme activities, we employed immunoblotting. Luciferase assays were used to examine nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB activities.

RESULTS

Intragastric administration of Ac-EE (30 mg/kg) ameliorated HCl/EtOH-induced stomach tissue damages in SD rats. Ac-EE inhibited the levels of NO and PGE_2, down regulated mRNA and protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Ac-EE suppressed the nuclear level of NF-κB (p50), and inhibited NF-κB luciferase activity. The Phosphorylation of Akt and IκBα was also inhibited by Ac-EE both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Ac-EE treatment exerts an anti-gastritis effect in rats. Inhibition of the Akt/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway is associated with this effect, providing a pharmacological basis for the clinical application of the rhizome of A. chinensis in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

New sesquiterpenoid glycoside from the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea

Six sesquiterpenoids and four lignans (1-10) were isolated from the n-BuOH extract of the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea. Among them, the new sesquiterpenoid glycoside named (4 R, 5S, 7R)-hinesolone-11-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside (1), along with three known compounds (2-4) were first obtained from this genus. All the isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations were assigned by electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy technique. In addition, the cytotoxic bioassay of compound 1 was evaluated and results showed it had no significant antitumor activity against human cancer cell lines MCF-7, HepG-2 and Hela.

Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Constituents of Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi

The rhizomes of many Atractylodes species, including Atractylodes chinensis Koidzumi, Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi, and Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi, are collectively termed Atractylodis Rhizoma. We prepared n-hexane extracts of the three species and evaluated their anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Among all n-hexane extracts, those of A. japonica most strongly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells; five sesquiterpenes, atractylon, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, and 8-epiasterolid, were isolated from A. japonica. The phytochemical content of A. japonica was similar to those of A. chinensis and A. macrocephala. Moreover, the atractylon concentration was higher in A. japonica than in A. chinensis and A. macrocephala. Atractylon significantly inhibited NO and prostaglandin E2 production as well as inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Atractylon (40 mg/kg) also significantly reduced the acetic-acid-induced writhing response, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and hot-plate latent pain response in mice. According to the results, A. japonica has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects and atractylon is the major active component of A. japonica. Therefore, atractylon can be used as a bioactivity marker in A. japonica.

Yu Ping Feng San, an ancient Chinese herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Saposhnikoviae Radix, regulates the release of cytokines in murine macrophages

Yu Ping Feng San (YPFS), a Chinese herbal decoction, is composed of Astragali Radix (AR; Huangqi), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR; Baizhu) and Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR; Fangfeng) in a weight ratio of 1∶2∶1. Clinically, YPFS has been widely used to regulate immune functions; however, the action mechanism of it is not known. Here, we addressed this issue by providing detail analyses of chemical and biological properties of YPFS. By using rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, fifteen chemicals deriving from different herbs of YPFS were determined, and which served as a control for the standardization of the herbal extract of YPFS. In general, the amounts of chosen chemical markers were higher in a preparation of YPFS as compared to that of single herb or two-herb compositions. In order to reveal the immune functions of YPFS, the standardized extract was applied onto cultured murine macrophages. The treatment of YPFS stimulated the mRNA and protein expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines via activation of NF-κB by enhancing IκBα degradation. In contrast, the application of YPFS suppressed the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines significantly in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chronic inflammation model. In addition, YPFS could up regulate the phagocytic activity in cultured macrophages. These results therefore supported the bi-directional immune-modulatory roles of YPFS in regulating the releases of cytokines from macrophages.

Banhabaekchulchunma-tang, a traditional herbal formula attenuates absolute ethanol-induced gastric injury by enhancing the antioxidant status

Background

Banhabaekchulchunma-tang (hange-byakujutsu-tenma-to in Japanese and banxia-baizhu-tianma-tang in Chinese) is a mixture of fourteen herbs. It is used traditionally for the treatment of anemia, anorexia, general weakness, and female infertility in China, Japan, and Korea. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of a Banhabaekchulchunma-tang water extract (BCT) against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in rats.

Methods

Gastric injury was induced by intragastric administration of 5 mL/kg body weight of absolute ethanol to each rat. The positive control group and the BCT group were given oral doses of omeprazole (50 mg/kg) or BCT (400 mg/kg), respectively, 2 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol. The stomach of each animal was excised and examined for gastric mucosal lesions. To confirm the protective effects of BCT, we evaluated the degree of lipid peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in the stomach. In addition, we conducted an acute toxicity study to evaluate the safety of BCT according to OECD guideline.

Results

BCT reduced ethanol-induced hemorrhage, hyperemia, and loss of epithelial cell in the gastric mucosa. BCT reduced the increased lipid peroxidation associated with ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions, and increased the mucosal GSH content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, BCT did not cause any adverse effects at up to 5000 mg/kg.

Conclusions

These results indicate that BCT protects the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced gastric injury by increasing the antioxidant status. We suggest that BCT could be developed as an effective drug for the treatment of gastric injury caused by alcohol intake.

Evaluation on the Pharmacological Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine SiJunZiTang on Stress-Induced Peptic Ulcers

Purpose. To explore the effects of SiJunZiTang (SJZT) on central neurotransmitters and the inhibition of HCl hypersecretion, along with the role of the vagus nerve. From this, the effects of SJZT and its constituent ingredients on inhibiting stress-induced peptic ulcers will be determined. Methods. Methods used to determine SJZT's effectiveness included (1) measuring the antipeptic ulcer effects of varying combinations of the constituents of SJZT; (2) evaluations of monoamine (MA) level in the brain; and (3) measuring the effects of longer-term SJZT treatment. Results. Comparing the control and experimental groups where the rats' vagus nerves were not cut after taking SJZT orally (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg), the volume of enterogastric juice, free HCl and total acidity all reduce dose-dependently. The group administered SJZT at 1000 mg/kg showed significant reductions (P < 0.05). For the experimental groups where the vagus nerves were cut, a comparison with the control group suggests that the group receiving SJZT (500 mg/kg) orally for 21 days demonstrated a cure rate of 34.53%. Conclusion. The results display a correlation between the therapeutic effects of SJZT on stress-induced peptic ulcers and central neurotransmitter levels. Further to this, SJZT can inhibit the hypersecretion of HCl in the stomach, thus inhibiting stress-induced peptic ulcers.

Protective effect of Bojungikki-tang, a traditional herbal formula, against alcohol-induced gastric injury in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury. Bojungikki-tang (Hochuekkito in Japanese, Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in Chinese) is a traditional herbal formula used in Korea, Japan, and China to treat allergic diseases and gastrointestinal disorders. However, the mechanism responsible for its actions has not been investigated experimentally.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aims of this study were to investigate whether Bojungikki-tang water extract (BJITE) has protective effects against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in rats and to perform an acute toxicity study to evaluate its safety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this rat model, gastric mucosal injury was imposed by oral administration of 5 mL/kg body weight of absolute ethanol. BJITE at one of two doses (200 or 400 mg/kg body weight) was administered by gavage 2 h before ethanol administration. Gastric tissues were collected and analyzed to assess the gastric injury index, and content or activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

RESULTS

Acute administration of ethanol significantly increased the gastric injury index concomitantly with an increase in MDA and GSH content, and a decrease in the activities of catalase, GST, GR, GPx, and SOD. Pretreatment with 200 or 400 mg/kg BJITE attenuated ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury; this was accompanied by an increase in the content or activity of PGE(2), catalase, GSH, GST, GR, GPx, and SOD, and a decrease in MDA content. In the acute toxicity study, no adverse effects of BJITE were observed at doses up to 2000 mg/kg body weight.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that BJITE can partly protect the gastric mucosa from ethanol-induced acute gastric injury and suggest that these protective effects might be induced by increasing the antioxidant status. We suggest that BJITE can be developed as an effective drug for the treatment of acute gastric injury.

Two new polyacetylenic compounds from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz

Two new polyacetylenic compounds, (6E,12Z)-tetradecadiene-8,10-diyne-1,3-diol (1) and (6Z,12Z)-tetradecadiene-8,10-diyne-1,3-diol (2), were isolated from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Their structures were established by analysis of spectroscopic data.

Pharmacological mechanism responsible for the Atractylodes japonica-induced distal colonic contraction in rats

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Atractylodes japonica Koidz (Compositae) has been commonly used to treat the gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in Korean traditional medicine, but its pharmacological roles in the regulation of GI motility have not been clarified yet.

METHODS

Atractylodes japonica was sequentially partitioned with MeOH, n-hexane, CHCl(3), EtOAc and n-BuOH saturated with H(2)O, and the effects of Atractylodes japonica extracts on the spontaneous contractility of GI muscle strips prepared from rats were measured.

RESULTS

Among five different fractionations, EtOAc extracts of Atractylodes japonica (AJEA) dose-dependently increased the low frequency contraction of distal colon longitudinal muscles (DCLM), and the ED(50) values were revealed to be 1.71×10(-9) g/ml. Among GI tracts, a prominent contractile response to AJEA was observed only in the DCLM. The contractile patterns produced by AJEA remarkably differed from those caused by acetylcholine and 5-HT. 4-DAMP and methoctramine at 0.5 μM significantly blocked the AJEA (1.0 μg/ml)-induced contraction of DCLM, but ondansetron, GR113808 and methysergide at 1.0 μM in combination did not change the AJEA-induced DCLM contractions. Acetylethylcholine mustard (5.0 μM) significantly diminished the AJEA-induced DCLM contractions, whereas p-chlorophenyl alanine (1.0 μM) did not affect the stimulatory effects of AJEA on the DCLM contractions.

CONCLUSION

The present results suggest that AJEA may specifically act on the DCLM among GI smooth muscles, and AJEA-induced DCLM contraction is likely mediated, at least, by activation of ChAT and acetylcholinergic muscarinic receptors.

Acetylene compound isolated from Atractylodes japonica stimulates the contractility of rat distal colon via inhibiting the nitrergic-purinergic relaxation

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our previous research has showed that rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz (Compositae) exhibits an increase in the spontaneous contractility of distal colon in rats. The aims of this study are to identify the phytochemical(s), which stimulate(s) the colonic contractility, contained in Atractylodes japonica and to evaluate the pharmacological mechanism responsible for the colonic muscle contraction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on the stimulatory activity-guided fractionation on the isometric contraction of rat distal colonic strips, atractylodiol (ATD) and diacetyl-atractylodiol (DATD) were isolated from the CHCl(3) fractions of Atractylodes japonica.

RESULTS

ATD and DATD dose-dependently increased both tension and amplitude of distal colon longitudinal muscle (DCLM), but they stimulated only amplitude in the distal colon circular muscle. The ED(50) values of ATD and DATD to stimulate the amplitude of DCLM were revealed as 9.1×10(-9)M and 1.8×10(-8)M, respectively. l-NAME (0.1mM) significantly increased the ADT (1μM)-induced contraction of DCLM, whereas SNAP (0.1mM) markedly reduced the stimulatory effects of ATD on DCLM contractility. The combined effects of SNAP and atropine (0.5μM) on the ATD-induced contraction of DCLM were similar to the inhibitory effects of SNAP alone. Suramin (0.1mM) significantly enhanced the increase of ATD-induced DCLM contraction, whereas ADPβS (0.1mM) markedly abolished the stimulatory effects of ATD on the spontaneous contractility of DCLM.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results demonstrate that acetylene compounds, ATD and DATD, are the effective phytochemical of Atractylodes japonica to stimulate the motility of distal colon in rats, and ATD possibly enhances the spontaneous contractility of distal colon through inhibiting the mechanism of nitrergic-purinergic relaxation.

An antioxidant phytotherapy to rescue neuronal oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic neuronal injury. A Chinese herbal formula composed of Poria cocos (Chinese name: Fu Ling), Atractylodes macrocephala (Chinese name: Bai Zhu) and Angelica sinensis (Chinese names: Danggui, Dong quai, Donggui; Korean name: Danggwi) (FBD), has been proved to be beneficial in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of FBD against neuronal oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. Rat I/R were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1 h, followed by 24 h reperfusion. MCAO led to significant depletion in superoxide dismutase and glutathione and rise in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide in brain. The neurological deficit and brain infarction were also significantly elevated by MCAO as compared with sham-operated group. All the brain oxidative stress and damage were significantly attenuated by 7 days pretreatment with the aqueous extract of FBD (250 mg kg(-1), p.o.). Moreover, cerebrospinal fluid sampled from FBD-pretreated rats protected PC12 cells against oxidative insult induced by 0.2 mM hydrogen peroxide, in a concentration and time-dependent manner (IC(50) 10.6%, ET(50) 1.2 h). However, aqueous extract of FBD just slightly scavenged superoxide anion radical generated in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system (IC(50) 2.4 mg ml(-1)) and hydroxyl radical generated in Fenton reaction system (IC(50) 3.6 mg ml(-1)). In conclusion, FBD was a distinct antioxidant phytotherapy to rescue neuronal oxidative stress, through blocking LPO, restoring endogenous antioxidant system, but not scavenging free radicals.

A polyacetylene compound from herbal medicine regulates genes associated with thrombosis in endothelial cells

From Toki-shakuyaku-san, an herbal formulation for 'cleansing stagnated blood,' a key gene regulatory compound was purified and identified through a screening based on DNA microarray and real-time PCR.

Atractylodes japonica Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Expressions of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Atractylodes japonica has traditionally been used for the treatment of pain and arthritis. The effect of Atractylodes japonica against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation was investigated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nitric oxide detection, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) immunoassay in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages. The aqueous extract of Atractylodes japonica suppressed nitric oxide production and PGE2 synthesis by inhibition of the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated enhancement of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNAs expressions in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that Atractylodes japonica exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects probably by suppression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expressions.