Effect of oxymatrine on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide releasing and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in RAW 264.7 cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of Oxymatrine on nitric oxide(NO) releasing and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) expression in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced macrophage cells(RAW 264.7).Methods: LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells was employed as an inflammation model.RAW 264.7 cells were divided into 6 groups(n=6): control group,LPS group(1 μg/mL),OMT group(100 μmol/L),LPS+OMT small dosage group(20 μmol/L),LPS+OMT middle dosage group(50 μmol/L),LPS+OMT high dosage group(100 μmol/L).The production of NO was examined by Griess reaction,and the expression of iNOS mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.Results: OMT decreased the production of NO induced by LPS(P0.05,P0.01) and also suppressed LPS-induced iNOS mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 cells(P0.05,P0.01).Conclusion: OMT presents an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting iNOS level and reducing NO production.