Protective Effect of Ophiopogonin D in Mice with Acute Lung Injury and the Related Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Mechanisms

This study aimed to investigate the protective of ophiopogonin D (OP -D) for mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and the related mechanisms. Sixty mice were randomly divided into control, model, dexamethasone and low-, middle- and high -dose OP -D groups, 10 mice in each group. The low-, middle- and high -dose OP -D groups were given 5, 10, and 20 mg/g OP -D by gavage, respectively, once per day, for three consecutive days. The dexamethasone group was given 2 mg/kg dexamethasone by gavage. Then, the ALI model was established in latter five groups. At 1 h after intranasal infusion of LPS, the ALI symptoms in OP -D treatment groups were obviously milder than model group. After 6 h from ALI modeling, compared with model group, in middle- and high -dose OP -D groups the lung index and lung W/D were decreased (p < 0.05), the tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were decreased (p < 0.05), the superoxide dismutase level in lung tissues was increased (p < 0.05), the malondialdehyde level in lung tissues was decreased (p < 0.05), and the CD3+ and CD4+ cell percentages in abdominal aorta blood and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, OP -D plays an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory role in alleviation of ALI in mice.