Fig. 1

Immunostimulatory effects of Mc-fEE in vitro. a Mc-fEE (0–200  g/ml) was used to treat RAW264.7 cells for 24 h, and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. b Polymyxin B (40  g/ml) was used to treat RAW264.7 cells for 30 min, Mc-fEE (0–200  g/ml) or LPS (1  g/ml) was used to treat these cells for 24 h, and NO production was measured by NO assay. c TNF-α production level was detected by ELISA in supernatants of Mc-fEE (0–200  g/ml)-treated RAW264.7 cells. d RAW264.7 cells treated with Mc-fEE (0–200  g/ml) were used to detect various immune response-related pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IFN-β, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-12b. e The phytochemical profiles were detected by using HPLC analysis with comparing the standard component, deacetylasperulosidic acid. Results (b-d) are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 4–5) and similar experimental data were obtained from an additional independent experiment performed under same conditions. *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01 compared to the normal group. ##: p < 0.01 compared to LPS alone