Inhibitory effect of Yangkyuk-Sanhwa-Tang on inflammatory cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the cerebral infarction patients.

Yangkyuk-Sanhwa-Tang (YST) has been used for the Soyangin cerebral infarction (CI) patients according to Sasang constitutional philosophy. This study investigated the effect of YST on production of various cytokines using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the Soyangin CI patients group. The amount of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha increased in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated cells compared with unstimulated-cells. YST inhibited IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-8 production in PBMCs stimulated with LPS. These data suggest that YST has a regulatory effect on cytokine production, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of Soyangin CI patients.