Ethnopharmacological relevance: Several Amomum species are commonly used in food as flavoring agents and traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases.
Aim of the study: This study aims to investigate the protective effects of Chinese herbal medicines, including six Amomum Roxb. essential oils (AEOs), against acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.
Materials and methods: The compositions of AEOs were analyzed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. RAW264.7 cells were treated with AEOS (0-100 μg/mL) and stimulated with LPS. C57 mice received AEOs (100 mg/kg) via atomization system for seven consecutive days, and then, intratracheal instillation of LPS was applied to establish an in vivo model of acute lung injury.
Results: We identified three AEOs demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects and amelioration of LPS-induced lung tissue pathological damage. Furthermore, we found that these AEOs reduced lung wet/dry weight ratios and protein concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice with LPS-induced ALI. Additionally, AEOs reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β but increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in lung tissue, alveolar lavage fluid, and serum samples. We also found that these three AEOs affected proteins related to the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.
Conclusions: In summary, our findings revealed that AEOs ameliorate inflammatory and oxidative stress in mice with ALI through the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.
Keywords: Acute lung injury; Amomum Roxb.; Essential oils; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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