FIGURE 2

Emodin inhibits LPS-induced inflammation via the JNK pathway in RAW264.7 cells. (A) Emodin suppresses activation of the JNK pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with emodin (40 μM) for 2 h followed by exposure to LPS (100 ng/ml) for 18 h. Then the expression levels of p-p38 (Thr180/Tyr182), p38, p-JNK (Thr183/Tyr185), JNK, p-ERK (Thr202/Tyr204), and ERK were assessed using Western blotting. (B,C) Anisomycin counteracts the inhibitory effects of emodin on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with SP600125 (8 μM) for 2 h or anisomycin (18 nM) for 4 h, and then treated with emodin (40 μM) for 2 h followed by exposure to LPS (100 ng/ml) for another 18 h. The levels of TNF-α (B) and IL-6 (C) in supernatant were measured by ELISA. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 3. ^***p < 0.001 compared with the control group; ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 compared with the emodin group; ^†p < 0.05, ^††p < 0.01, ^†††p < 0.001 compared with the emodin group.