Traditional medicine, Sobokchukeo-Tang, modulates the inflammatory response in adipocytes and macrophages

Sobokchukeo-Tang (ST) is a well-known formula that is used for treating primary dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis syndrome (BSS) in Korea and China. The current study investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenesis effects of ST on adipocytes and macrophages. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of ST was evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells and differentiated THP-1 cells. To induce inflammation, the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 µg/ml). Following the induction of inflammation, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cell supernatant were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiated into adipocytes in response to insulin, isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and dexamethasone (MDI). To confirm the anti-adipogenesis efficacy of ST, we investigated Oil Red O staining was performed, triglyceride (TG) and leptin secretion were measured, and the protein expression of lipid metabolism-associated factors was determined. ST significantly inhibited TNF-α and IL-6 production in the LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells compared with LPS stimulation alone. In addition, the concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly inhibited by ST in LPS-treated THP-1 cells. Lipid accumulation was reduced by ST, similarly to the positive control treatment, SB203580. In the ST-treated group, the TG and leptin concentrations were inhibited by up to 50 and 83%, respectively, compared with MDI induction only. The ST-treated group reduced the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α compared with MDI induction only. The results of the present study demonstrated that ST exerts anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-treated mouse and human macrophage cell lines. ST inhibited adipogenesis in MDI-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes, as indicated by the significant reduction in TG and leptin concentrations without cytotoxicity. Thus, ST may be useful as a therapeutic agent for preventing lipid-associated diseases, including obesity and atherosclerosis.