[Protective effects of rhizoma paridis total saponins on septic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of rhizoma paridis total saponins and its mechanism on septic rats.


METHODS
Septic model was reproduced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in Wistar rats. Rhizoma paridis total saponins was administered to observe its protective effects on septic rats. Blood was collected to determine serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1 beta)levels at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after operation by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed with light microscope at 72 hours after operation. The peritoneal macrophages (PMPhi) in rats were isolated and the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta in PMPhi after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 microg/L) were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
Mortality in the rhizoma paridis total saponins group was significantly lower than the CLP group (50.0% vs. 85.0%, P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta in serum were significantly lower than those of the CLP group at the same time (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The degree of inflammatory injury to the lung was much milder than that in the CLP group. In the in vitro experiment, it was shown that rhizoma paridis total saponins in concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/L could inhibit remarkably the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta from LPS-stimulated PMPhi of rats (all P < 0.01). The differences in TNF-alpha levels among the groups showed no statistically significant difference(all P > 0.05). The level of IL-1 beta in 5 mg/L group was significantly higher than that of the 10 mg/L group (P < 0.05), but showed no difference with those of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L groups (both P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Rhizoma paridis total saponins can protect the CLP rats by inhibiting the activation of rat PMPhi to release cytokines and ameliorating acute lung injury.
Zhou
Man-hong
MH
Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi 563003, Guizhou, China. manhongzhou@sina.com
Wang
Song
S
Ma
Xuan-lan
XL
Li
Tang-jiang
TJ
Liu
Tong-ying
TY
Liu
An-ping
AP
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D012503:Saponins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha