Pulsatilla decoction and its active ingredients inhibit secretion of NO, ET‐1, TNF‐ α , and IL‐1 α in LPS‐induced rat intestinal microvascular endothelial cells

To investigate the pharmacological mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicine, Pulsatilla decoction (PD), the levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin‐1 (ET‐1), tumor necrosis factor‐ α (TNF‐ α ), and interleukin‐1 α (IL‐1 α ) secreted by cultured rat intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (RIMECs) were determined after treatment with PD and its seven active ingredients, namely anemoside B 4 , anemonin, berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, aesculin, and esculetin. RIMECs were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 1 µg ml −1 for 3 h and then treated with PD at 1, 5, and 10 mg ml −1 and its seven ingredients at 1, 5, and 10 µg ml −1 for 21 h, respectively. The results revealed that PD, anemonin, berberine, and esculetin inhibited the production of NO; PD, anemonin, and esculetin inhibited the secretion of ET‐1; PD, anemoside B 4 , berberine, jatrorrhizine, and aesculin downregulated TNF‐ α expression; PD, anemoside B 4 , berberine, and palmatine decreased the content of IL‐1 α . It showed that PD and its active ingredients could significantly inhibit the secretion of NO, ET‐1, TNF‐ α , and IL‐1 α in LPS‐induced RIMECs and suggested they would reduce inflammatory response via these cytokines. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.