Protective Effect of Gui-Hong Herb Pair on lLipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Lung Injury via Regulation of the MAPK and NF-κB Pathways

Abstract

The compatibility between Danggui (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, DG) and Honghua (Carthamus tinctorius L., HH) is a known as Gui-Hong herb pair with the functions of “activate blood and dissolve stasis”. The effect of Gui-Hong herb pair on acute lung injury (ALI) is not clear. Therefore, we provided a basis for the protective effect of Gui-Hong herb pair on ALI induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The content of hydroxysafflor yellow A in HH was 35.80 mg/g and the content of ferulic acid in DG was 2.85 mg/g. Gui-Hong herb pair inhibited the excessive oxidative stress response and production of NO, and reduced the inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-1β and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, they decreased the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK and IκBα-NF-κB trimer degradation as well as nuclear transport of NF-κB p65. In ALI model, Gui-Hong herb pair improved pulmonary edema and lung permeability, enhanced antioxidant stress and anti-inflammatory ability. Our study showed that the Gui-Hong herb pair had the potential for the prevention and treatment of ALI by inhibiting inflammation.