Planta Med 2011; 77(8): 809-816
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250573
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Ligustilide on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endotoxic Shock in Rabbits

Meng Shao1 [*] , Kai Qu2 [*] , Ke Liu1 , Yuqin Zhang2 , Ling Zhang2 , Zeqin Lian2 , Tingting Chen2 , Junfeng Liu4 , Aili Wu3 , Yue Tang3 , Haibo Zhu2
  • 1College of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Jilin, P. R. China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Natural Drugs Biosynthesis, Ministry of Health & Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
  • 3Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Fuwai Hospital & Cardiovascular Institute, Beijing, P. R. China
  • 4Shandong Target-Drug Research Co., Ltd., Shandong, P. R. China
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

received May 23, 2010 revised Sept. 3, 2010

accepted October 28, 2010

Publikationsdatum:
23. November 2010 (online)

Preview

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of ligustilide against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxic shock in Japanese white rabbits and attempted to elucidate the possible mechanism underlying these effects. Forty-two rabbits were randomized into 6 groups: normal group, LPS group, dexamethasone group (5 mg/kg), and 3 ligustilide groups (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg). After the rabbits had received a LPS infusion (0.3 mg/kg), dexamethasone and ligustilide were intravenously injected at the above-mentioned dosages. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and rectal temperature (RT) were recorded throughout the experiment. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay every 30 minutes for the first hour and every 60 minutes thereafter until the end of the experiment. The serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), creatinine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein (TP), creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (T. BIL), and counts of formed elements of blood were measured at 0, 120, and 300 minutes after the administration of LPS. Hemorheology was assayed 300 minutes after the LPS injection. The vital organs were collected and weighed before histopathologic examination. A comparison between the LPS group and the ligustilide groups showed that ligustilide significantly inhibited the decline in MAP and RT and decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO, but had no apparent effect on HR. Ligustilide also inhibited the increase in the levels of biochemical markers, such as ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, LDH, CK, BUN, and Scr, but showed no apparent effect on T. BIL and TP. Furthermore, ligustilide partly restored the function of injured vital organs, including the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. These results suggest that ligustilide protected the rabbits against LPS-induced endotoxic shock.

References

1 These authors contributed equally to this work.

Professor Haibo Zhu, Ph.D.

Institute of Materia Medica
Chinese Academy of Medicine Science & Peking Union Medical College

1 Xian Nong Tan Street

Beijing 100050

P. R. China

Telefon: +86 10 63 18 81 06

Fax: +86 10 63 01 77 57

eMail: zhuhaibo@imm.ac.cn