Objective: To investigate the effect of Ephedrae Herba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma medicine pair on proliferation

production of nitric oxide (NO)

tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transformation of M1/M2 phenotype in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.Method: RAW264.7 cells were treated with Ephedrae Herba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma of different concentrations ranging from 1 mg · L-1 to 100 mg · L-1

and cell viability was determined by 3-(4

5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2

5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Afterwards

RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS

NO release was tested by the Griess method

the production of TNF-α was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)

and the expression of M1/M2-correlated genes were determined by Real-time PCR.Result: Ephedrae Herba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma medicine pair with the dose at 100 mg · L-1 and below had no effect on the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells. Comparing with LPS-induced group

medicine pair with the dose of 25-100 mg · L-1 could reduce the release of NO (P<0.05

P<0.01)

and medicine pair with the dose of 10-100 mg · L-1 could significantly reduce the expression of TNF-α (P<0.05

P<0.01); medicine pair with the dose of 50 mg · L-1 could suppress the mRNA expressions of marker genes of M1 macrophages

namely IL-6

IL-1β and iNOS

but with no effect on marker genes of M2 macrophages

namely IL-10

ARG1 and MRC1.Conclusion: Ephedrae Herba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma could reduce inflammation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells

and the mechanism may be related to the suppression on skewing of macrophages toward M1 phenotype and the reduction in the production of anti-inflammatory factors

like TNF-α and NO.