[Effect of xiaochaihu decoction and different herbal
formulations of its components on cytokines of carrageenan
induced pleuritis in rats].  ABSTRACT To explore the anti-
inflammatory effect and possible mechanism of Xiaochaihu
Decoction (XCHD) and the different herbal formulations of its
components. Rat model of pleuritis was established by thoracic
injecting 0.2 ml of 1% carrageenan. Rats in the treated groups
were medicated with XCHD (11 g/kg) and the different herbal
formulations of its components respectively as follows: thorowax
root-scutellaria root (A, 3.5 g/kg), fresh ginger-pinellia tuber
(B, 3 g/kg), ginseng-licorice root-jujube (C, 4.5 g/kg), A + B
(6.5 g/kg), A + C (8 g/kg) and B + C (7.5 g/kg), and those in
the normal group and the model group were given equal volume of
instilled water, by way of gastrogavage for successive 5 days.
Modeling was performed 2 hrs after the last medication. The
amount of pleurorrhea, and leucocyte (WBC), marrow peroxidase
(MPO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha