Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (POG) is the highest content chromone and one of the major active constituents in Radix Saposhnikoviae (RS). Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin exerts anti-inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7 macrophages through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling. The cytotoxicity of Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin is measured to LPS-activated Raw 264.7 macrophages. Raw 264.7 macrophages are treated with LPS (1 μg/mL) and increasing concentrations of Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (15, 50, and 100 μg/mL) for 24 h and cell viability is evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Cell viability is not significantly affected after 24 h and exposure to 15-100 μg/mL Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin as compared with DMSO-treated cells (control). To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, whether Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin can affect NO synthesis is examined in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Macrophages are treated with LPS (1 μg/mL) and various concentrations of Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (15, 50, and 100 μg/mL) for 24 h. No concentrations are measured in the culture supernatants by Griess reaction. The concentrations of NO in the culture supernatants are markedly increased in response to LPS exposure, and Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin significantly inhibits LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is collected at 7 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration and the cytokine levels in BALF are measured by ELISA. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in BALF are increased dramatically compared with control group. However, pretreatment with Prime-O-glucosylcimifugin (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg) significantly down-regulates the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.01).