Protective and anti-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, Xia-Bai-San, by modulating lung local cytokine in a murine model of acute lung injury

We investigated the effects of Xia-Bai-San (XBS) on acute lung inflammation induced by LPS in vivo. Mice were challenged with intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (100 mu g) 30 min before administering XBS (1 mg/kg oral administration). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained after 4 and 24 h to measure proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6), anti-inflammatory cytokines, (IL-10), chemokines (KC, MCP-1 and MIP-2), total cell counts, nitric oxide production, and proteins. The results indicated that XBS down-regulated the LPS-induced expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, KC, MIP-2, and MCP-1. Furthermore, it also enhanced the production of IL-10, which had increased 24 h after LPS challenge. In addition, total leukocyte counts, nitric oxide production, NOS expression, and BALF's proteins had significantly decreased 24 h after LPS challenge. XBS was also believes to have reduced the acute inflammation by attenuating the activation of NF-kappa B. In conclusion, XBS seem to suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation by stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines in lung. These results suggest that XBS could be a useful adjunct in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.