Protective effect of taraxasterol against LPS-induced endotoxic shock by modulating inflammatory responses in mice. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xuemei; Xiong, Huanzhang; Li, Hongyu; Cheng, Yao
• Is Part Of: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology. Volume 36:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: Immunopharmacology -- Periodicals; Immunotoxicology -- Periodicals; Antibody-toxin conjugates -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 615.37
• DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2013.861482
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-3973

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Taraxasterol, a pentacyclic-triterpene, was isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb <italic>Taraxacum officinale</italic>. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of taraxasterol on murine model of endotoxic shock and the mechanism of its action. Mice were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg of taraxasterol prior to a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Survival of mice was monitored twice a day for 7 days. To further understand the mechanism, the serum levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mediator nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) as well as histology of lungs were examined. The results showed that taraxasterol significantly improved mouse survival and attenuated tissue injury of the lungs in LPS-induced endotoxemic mice. Further studies revealed that taraxasterol significantly reduced TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, NO and PGE₂ levels in sera from mice with endotoxic shock. These results indicate that taraxasterol has a protective effect on murine endotoxic shock induced by LPS through modulating inflammatory cytokine and mediator secretion. This finding might provide a new strategy for the treatment of endotoxic shock and associated inflammation.</p> </abstract>