Anti-Inflammatory Effects of 81 Chinese Herb Extracts and Their Correlation with the Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Table 4

Percentage distribution of herbs with cell protective capability in each TCM characteristics.

TCM characteristics	Hit herbs^a	Percentage (21 herbs)	Hit herbs^b	Percentage (43 herbs)
Four natures
Cold	5	23.81	19	44.19
Cool	1	4.76	1	2.33
Moderate	5	23.81	5	11.63
Warm	8	38.10	15	34.88
Hot	2	9.52	1	2.33
Five flavors
Pungent	15	71.43	21	48.84
Sweet	9	42.86	14	32.56
Bitter	13	61.90	22	51.16
Sour	0	0	0	0
Astringent	2	9.52	2	4.65
Salty	2	9.52	1	2.33
Mild	0	0	2	4.651
Meridian distributions
Liver	9	42.86	20	46.51
Lung	11	52.38	18	41.86
Spleen	10	47.62	12	27.91
Heart	8	38.10	14	32.56
Kidney	8	38.10	12	27.91
Stomach	4	19.05	13	30.23
Intestinum crassum	3	14.29	3	6.977
Urinary bladder	1	4.76	6	13.95
Gallbladder	0	0	5	11.63
Intestinum tenue	0	0	1	2.326

aHerbs with over 90% cell protective capability in stimulated RAW264.7 cells.
^bHerbs with ability to increase over 90% cell proliferation in resting RAW264.7 cells.