**6.6** *Taraxocum mongolicum* **as therapeutic agent**

*Taraxocum mongolicum* is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various inflammations and infectious diseases, as well as clinically in the treatment of mastitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of *T. mongolicum* against *S. aureus* mastitis and its underlying mechanism. Female ICR mice were given 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg *T. mongolicum* extract twice daily for 6 consecutive days and infected with *Staphylococcus aureus* via the teat canal to induce mastitis. Anti-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were measured by ELISA. The activity and distribution of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured using a kit and immunohistochemistry. Observe histo-pathological changes in udder tissue with H&E staining. Western blotting was used to demonstrate the expression of talk like receptor 2 (TLR2), phosphorylation of related nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins, and mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. *T. mongolicum* reduces TNF- and agr, IL-6- and IL-1. Serum and udder levels of mastitis infected with *Staphylococcus aureus* reduce the activity and spread of MPO. In addition, *T. mongolicum* is effective in reducing histo-pathological damage and cell necrosis in udder tissue infected with *Staphylococcus aureus*. In addition, *T. mongolicum* suppress TLR2 expression and phosphorylation of κBα (IκBα), p65, p38, extracellular signal kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and N-terminal c-Jun kinase (JNK). This study showed that *T. mongolicum* prevents mastitis caused by *Staphylococcus aureus* infection by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the TLR2-NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway [63].
