OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of extracts from Honghua(Flos Carthami) on lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide(NO) production in RAW 264.7cells and the influence of the extracts on yeastα-glucosidase activity. The total flavonoid content of the extracts was also determined.METHODS: Cytotoxicity of the extracts to RAW264.7 cells was evaluated by the ATPlite? method.Inhibitory effects of the extracts on NO production were evaluated by Griess assay. Curcumin was used as a positive control. Screening of extracts for potential α-glucosidase inhibitors was done by a fluorometric assay.The assay was based on the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl-a-D-glucopyranoside to form the fluorescent product, 4-methylumbelliferone. Acarbose was used as a positive control. The total flavonoid content was tested using kaempferol as the standard.RESULTS: There were significant inhibitory effects on NO production when the extracts were 25-100μg/mL(P