IL6 and peritonitis: However, despite the clear anti-inflammatory effect of SM on the total and differential leukocyte count of peritoneal exudates in carrageenan-induced peritonitis, the test compound did not affect the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peritoneal exudates in comparison with carrageenan-challenged mice without treatment (Figure 9C), while the reference compound dexamethasone reduced TNF-α and IL-6 to the level of healthy animals (Figure 9C).