Taraxasterol, a pentacyclic-
triterpene, was isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Taraxacum officinale. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of
taraxasterol on murine model of endotoxic
shock and the mechanism of its action. Mice were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg of
taraxasterol prior to a lethal dose of
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Survival of mice was monitored twice a day for 7 days. To further understand the mechanism, the serum levels of inflammatory
cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),
interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β),
interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mediator
nitric oxide (NO),
prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) as well as histology of lungs were examined. The results showed that
taraxasterol significantly improved mouse survival and attenuated tissue injury of the lungs in LPS-induced endotoxemic mice. Further studies revealed that
taraxasterol significantly reduced TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β,
IL-6, NO and PGE₂ levels in sera from mice with endotoxic
shock. These results indicate that
taraxasterol has a protective effect on murine endotoxic
shock induced by LPS through modulating inflammatory
cytokine and mediator secretion. This finding might provide a new strategy for the treatment of endotoxic
shock and associated
inflammation.