Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese veterinary medicine preparation of 'Sanhuanglian Powder (SHLP)'. In in vitro experiment, the toxicity of SHLP on RAW264.7 cells was investigated by CCK-8 method, and the LPS induced inflammation model in RAW264.7 was established to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of SHLP. In in vivo experiment, xylene was used to induce acute inflammation model in mice, and the degree of auricle swelling, organ index and serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8 and COX-2 were determined. The results showed that the maximum safe concentration of SHLP on RAW264.7 cells was 50 μg/mL. High, medium and low doses of SHLP could inhibit the secretion of IL-8, TNF-α, IL-β and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells at different degrees (P<0.05 or P< 0.01). High dose of SHLP extremely significantly (P<0.01) reduced the NO secretion level in culture supernatant of RAW264.7 cells. High, medium and low doses of SHLP extremely significantly (P<0.01) inhibited the auricular swelling and down-regulated the secretion of serum inflammatory cytokines of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and COX-2. Various concentrations of SHLP had no significant effect on the organ index of the experimental mice (P>0.05). In conclusion, the traditional Chinese veterinary medicine preparation of 'Sanhuanglian Powder' had significant anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo.

Key words: 'Sanhuanglian Powder', inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory effect