Protective effect of total alkaloids on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Corydalis denticulato-bracteata Fedde is used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of pneumonia. However, there is no scientific evidence, which validate the use of total alkaloids of denticulato-bracteata Fedde in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Male Kunming mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 12, each): control group, total alkaloids alone (200 mg/kg, intragastric gavage), LPS group, and three different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, intragastric gavage) for total alkaloids-treated groups, Dexamethasone (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) group. Corresponding drugs or vehicles were given 24 and 1 h before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). The severity of pulmonary injury was evaluated 6 h after LPS challenge.

RESULTS:

As revealed by survival study, pretreatment with total alkaloids significantly reduced LPS-induced death. We also found that total alkaloids pretreatment markedly decreased the lung wet-to-dry weight ratios and significantly attenuated histopathologic changes. Moreover, total alkaloids decreased the production of the tumor necrosis factor α and nitric oxide in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Total alkaloids pretreatment also reduced LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and p65 nuclear factor kappa B protein expression in the lung.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study indicates that total alkaloids may have a protective effect against LPS-induced acute lung injury. This protective effect of total alkaloids seems to result from inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation, which causes the reduction of inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor α and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

• Authors: Xiaofeng Niu, Hua Hu, Weifeng Li, Yongmei Li, Huimin Huang, Qingli Mu, Huan Yao, Huani Li
• Journal: The Journal of surgical research (J Surg Res) Vol. 189 Issue 1 Pg. 126-34 (Jun 01 2014) ISSN: 1095-8673 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24594217 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Alkaloids
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Plant Extracts

Topics

• Acute Lung Injury (chemically induced, pathology, prevention & control)
• Alkaloids (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Corydalis
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Lipopolysaccharides (toxicity)
• Lung (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Random Allocation
• Survival Analysis