The disclosure describes a method of inhibiting TNF in subjects comprising administering a TNF inhibiting amount of an extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus maxim to a subject. In addition, the present disclosure provides a method of inhibiting TNF in a cell line comprising administering to the cell line a TNF inhibiting amount of an extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus maxim. Finally, the disclosure provides a method of treating a TNF mediated disorder in a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of an extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus maxim to the subject.