title: Protective effects of esculentic acid against endotoxic shock in Kunming mice.
abstract: Esculentic acid (EA), a triterpene compound extracted from the root of Phytolacca esculenta (the Chinese name Shang Lu), has been widely used to therapy a variety of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, edema, hepatitis and bronchitis. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of EA against LPS-induced endotoxic shock by the intraperitoneal injection of EA (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg) prior to LPS stimulation (1 mg/kg, i.p.). We examined the effects of EA on the survival rate of mice, inflammatory cytokine and pro-inflammatory mediator production, histopathological changes and protein expression of COX-2 in tissue sections from lung, liver and kidney. The results indicate that EA not only increases the survival rate of mice, but decreases the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, NO and PGE2 in serum or tissues, histopathological changes and COX-2 protein expression also. Furthermore, EA also increases the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in serum. Overall, these data suggest that the protective effects of EA against LPS-induced endotoxic shock may be mediated, at least in part, by regulation the release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, and protein expression of COX-2 in mice.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China. Electronic address: niuxf@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qingli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China. Electronic address: liwf@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D029603:Phytolacca / Q000276:immunology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014315:Triterpenes; C000600522:esculentic acid; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone
keywords: Cyclooxygenase-2; Endotoxic shock; Esculentic acid; Inflammatory cytokines; Pro-inflammatory mediators