Xiao-xu-ming decoction inhibits lipopolysaccharide induced neuroinflammation in mice

OBJECTIVE Xiao-xu-ming decoction(XXMD),a well-known traditional Chinese herbal prescription,has been widely used to treat stroke.It is recorded in″Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang″written by Si-miao Sun of the Chinese ancient Tang Dynasty.In our previous study,the active fraction of XXMD(XXM)against cerebral ischemia has been prepared by modern separation and purification techniques.This study was to investigate XXM against lipopolysaccaride(LPS)-induced neuroinflammation in mice.METHODS LPS is an endotoxin from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that activates inflammation.XXM was pre-treated in BALB/C mice followed by injected intraperitoneally with LPS(5 mg·kg-1).The effects of XXM on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory factors and proteins were measured by ELISA,Western blot,and immunofluorescence in vivo.RESULTS Mice treated with XXM showed significantly decreased proinflammatory factors level,including IL-1β(P<0.01),IL-6(P<0.01),TNF-α(P<0.05),and MCP-1(P<0.01).Furthermore,XXM also significantly inhibited the inflammatory pathway proteins expression induced by LPS,including TLR4,MyD 88,and COX-2.CONCLUSION XXM possesses anti-neuroinflammation in mice and might be a promising therapeutic agent for stroke.