TNF and Arthritis: Catechin reduces inflammation and blunts the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as demonstrated in rats with experimental arthritis [7]. Scutellaria baicalensis, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, also called Chinese skullcap, has been used to treat respiratory inflammatory diseases [8–12], viral infections [13–15], cardiovascular diseases [16–18], and cancer [19, 20].