Ursolic acid improves survival and attenuates lung injury in septic rats induced by cecal ligation and puncture

  • J Surg Res. 2015 Apr;194(2):528-536. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.10.027.
Zhansheng Hu  1 ,  Zhilong Gu  1 ,  Meina Sun  2 ,  Ke Zhang  2 ,  Penghui Gao  2 ,  Qinwu Yang  2 ,  Yuan Yuan  3
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
  • 2. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
  • 3. Department of Pharmacy, Jinzhou Central Hospital, Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 25454976 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.10.027
Abstract

Background: Sepsis is characterized as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome during Infection, which can result in multiple organ dysfunction and death. Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpene acid, has been reported to have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to detect the possible protective effects of UA on sepsis-evoked acute lung injury.

Materials and methods: A rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with UA (10 mg/kg) after CLP, and then the survival was determined twice a day for 4 d. The protective effects of UA on CLP-induced acute lung injury were assayed at 24 h after CLP.

Results: The results revealed that UA treatment markedly improved the survival of septic rats, and attenuated CLP-induced lung injury, including reduction of lung wet/dry weight ratio, infiltration of leukocytes and proteins, myeloperoxidase activity, and malondialdehyde content. In addition, UA significantly decreased the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β, inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in the lung, which are involved in the productions of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that UA exerts protective effects on CLP-induced septic rats. UA may be a potential therapeutic agent against sepsis.

Keywords
Acute lung injury; Inflammatory mediator; Sepsis; Survival; Ursolic acid.
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