Objective To evaluate anti-inflammatory effect and difference of Early Chrysanthemum and Sheyang White Chrysanthemum. Methods RAW264.7 cells were inoculated into 6-hole cell culture plates at 5 × 10

4

cells/hole. Blank group was cultured for 24 h without any treatment; model group was added with 500 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide（LPS） to induce RAW264.7 cells to establish inflammation models; high and low dose groups of Early Chrysanthemum and Sheyang White Chrysanthemum were added with 125 and 62.5μg/ml corresponding chrysanthemum alcohol extracts for 1 ml/hole

respectively

and 2 h after the treatment

they were stimulated by 500 ng/ml LPS solution for 24 h. Five parallel holes were set in each group. Supernatant of the cells was collected to detect the concentration of nitric oxide（NO）

and tumor necrosis factor α（TNF-α）

interleukin 6（IL-6）

interleukin 1β（IL-1β）

inducible nitric oxide synthase（iNOS） and cyclooxygenase 2（COX-2） mRNA expression levels were detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with the blank group

the level of NO in the supernatant and the expressions of TNF-α

IL-6

IL-1β

iNOS and COX-2 mRNA in the cells of the model group were up-regulated（P

<

0.01）. Compared with the model group

except for the expression of IL-1β mRNA in the cells of the high dose group of Early Chrysanthemum

the levels of NO in the supernatant and the cell TNF-α

IL-6

IL-1β

iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expressions in the other medicated groups were down-regulated（P

<

0.01）. The expression of cell iNOS mRNA in the high dose group of Early Chrysanthemum was lower than that in the high dose group of Sheyang White Chrysanthemum

and the expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were increased（P

<

0.01）. The expressions of cell IL-6

IL-1β and COX-2 mRNA in the low dose group of Early Chrysanthemum were lower than those in the low dose group of Sheyang White Chrysanthemum

and the expression of TNF-α mRNA was increased（P

<

0.01）. Conclusion Early Chrysanthemum and Sheyang White Chrysanthemum have good anti-inflammatory activity. The inhibitory effect of Early Chrysanthemum on inflammatory factors iNOS

COX-2 and IL-6 is stronger than that of Sheyang White Chrysanthemum

and the inhibitory effect of Sheyang White Chrysanthemum on TNF-α and IL-1β is stronger than that of Early Chrysanthemum.