Total flavonoids of Mosla scabra leaves attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via down-regulation of inflammatory signaling in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mosla scabra (Thunb.) C.Y. Wu, belonging to the Labiatae family, is a tomentose and aromatic plant, which is widely used as an antipyretic and antiviral drug for pulmonary diseases and famous for its efficiency in treating colds, fever, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. To investigate therapeutic effects and possible mechanism of Mosla scabra flavonoids (MF) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were orally administrated with MF once (30 mg/kg or 90 mg/kg) 1 h before LPS challenge. Lung specimens and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were isolated for histopathological examinations and biochemical analyses 6 h after LPS challenge.

RESULTS: Pretreatment with MF could decrease significantly lung wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio, lower myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and total protein concentrations in the BALF, reduce serum levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in ALI model. Additionally, MF attenuated lung histopathological changes and significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and translocation of NF-κB p65.

CONCLUSIONS: These results showed MF significantly attenuate LPS-induced acute lung injury and production of inflammatory mediators via inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB activation, indicating it as a potential therapeutic agent for ALI.