text: 24975194_4	MATERIALS AND METHODS: Production of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the culture supernatant, mRNA expression of TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the extract were assayed.