Abstract: The rootbark ofLycium chinenseMiller (Solanaceae), also known as Lycii radicis cortex, is one of famous plant-originated drugs in Korean medicine owing to its anti-tussive, anti-asthmatic, and antipyretic properties. In thisstudy, the effect of Lycii radicis cortex water extract (LRC; 10 – 200 μg/mL) on inflammatory mediators from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages was inspected. After 24 h incubation with LRC, cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and various cytokines from RAW 264.7were measured. LRC increased the cell viability of RAW 264.7 at concentrations of up to 200 μg/mL. LRC significantly inhibited the production of NO, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-10 in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). As well, LRC diminished the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and lipopolysaccharide-induced CXC chemokine (LIX). The current results suggest that LRC hasimmunomodulatory property to alleviate excessive immune reactions during the activation of macrophages by LPS.

Keywords: Lycii radicis, immunomodulatory, macrophage, cytokine, nitric oxide.