ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF RHAMNAZIN ON LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED ACUTE LUNG INJURY AND INFLAMMATION IN RATS.

Background: Acute Lung Injury (ALI) results into severe inflammation and oxidative stress to the pulmonary tissue. Rhamnazin is a natural flavonoid and known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Materials and methods: The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties rhamnazin were tested for protection against the acute lung injury. We investigated whether rhamnazin improves the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in an animal model (rat). We also studied the probable molecular mechanism of action of rhamnazin. Rhamnazin was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) two days before intratracheal LPS challenge (5mg/kg). The changes in lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, LDH activity, pulmonary histopathology, BALF protein concentration, MPO activity, oxidative stress, cytokine production were estimated.

Results: The results showed a significant attenuation of all the inflammatory parameters and a marked improvement in the pulmonary histopathology in the animal groups pretreated with rhamnazin. The rhamnazin pretreated group also showed activation of Nrf2 pathway and attenuation of ROS such as H₂O₂, MDA and hydroxyl ion. These results indicated that rhamnazin could attenuate the symptoms of ALI in rats due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusion: The results strongly demonstrated that rhamnazin provides protection against LPS-induced ALI. The underlying mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory action may include inhibition of Nrf2 mediated antioxidative pathway.