Effects of volatile oils of Angelica sinensis on an acute inflammation rat model

Context Despite several pharmacological studies of volatile oils of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Umbelliferae) (VOAS), its anti-inflammatory mechanism remains unknown.Objective The study investigates the effects of VOAS on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation rat model and analyzes its possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms.Materials and methods Fourty rats were randomly divided into the control, model, VOAS and dexamethasone (Dex) groups. The VOAS and Dex groups were given VOAS (0.176mL/kg) and Dex (40g/kg), respectively. Rats in all groups except the control group were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (100g/kg), their exterior behaviour and liver pathological changes were observed, and the level of white blood cell (WBC), the number of neutrophils (NE)%, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, histamine (HIS), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were detected.Results Compared with the model group, VOAS and Dex significantly accelerated the recovery of the exterior behaviour, the liver pathological changes of rats, and increased the level of IL-10, but decreased the level of WBC, NE%, GOT, GPT, ALP, TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, HIS, 5-HT, NO, PGE(2), iNOS and COX-2 (p<0.05).Conclusion VOAS exhibits anti-inflammatory and liver protection effects by inhibiting the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-, IL-1 and IL-6), the inflammatory mediators (HIS, 5-HT, PGE(2) and NO), the inflammation-related enzymes (iNOS and COX-2), as well as promoting the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10.