Asiatic Acid Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

作者：Li, Zhiling; Xiao, Xianzhong^*; Yang, Mingshi

来源：Inflammation, 2016, 39(5): 1642-1648.

DOI：10.1007/s10753-016-0398-z

• asiatic acid
• LPS
• acute lung injury
• NF-kB

Asiatic acid (AA), a major triterpene isolated from Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, is known to exert various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of AA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and clarify the underlying mechanisms. Lung pathological changes were assessed by H&E staining. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was detected by MPO assay. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. TLR4 and NF-kB expression was detected by Western blot analysis. AA obviously inhibited LPS-induced lung histopathological changes, MPO activity, and inflammatory cell numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Treatment of AA also inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta production. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that AA inhibited LPS-induced TLR4 expression and NF-kB activation. In conclusion, AA inhibited LPS-induced ALI in mice by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production, which is mediated via blocking of the TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway.

• 出版日期2016-10
• 单位中南大学