Wogonoside Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

Wogonoside has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the effect of wogonoside on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Male BALB/c mice with ALI, induced by intranasal instillation of LPS, were treated with wogonoside 1 h prior to LPS exposure. Mice treated with LPS alone showed significantly increased TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). When pretreated with wogonoside, the TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta levels were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, wogonoside significantly inhibited LPS-induced increases in the macrophage and neutrophil infiltration of lung tissues and markedly attenuated myeloperoxidase activity. Furthermore, wogonoside inhibited the TLR4 expression and the phosphorylation of NF-kappa B p65, and I kappa B induced by LPS. In conclusion, our results indicate that wogonoside exhibits a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI via suppression of TLR4-mediated NF-kappa B signaling pathways.