Arctigenin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats

Arctigenin (ATG) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effects of ATG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) remains not well understood. In the present study, our investigation was designed to reveal the effect of ATG on LPS-induced ALI in rats. We found that ATG pretreatment attenuated the LPS-induced ALI, as evidenced by the reduced histological scores, myeloperoxidase activity, and wet-to-dry weight ratio in the lung tissues. This was accompanied by the decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-1 (IL-6) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Furthermore, ATG downregulated the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) p65, promoted the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B-alpha (I kappa B alpha) and activated the adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK alpha) in the lung tissues. Our results suggested that ATG attenuates the LPS-induced ALI via activation of AMPK and suppression of NF-kappa B signaling pathway.