ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Lavender oil (Lav) from Lavandula angustifolia L. (Lamiacease) exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties against various diseases. OBJECTIVE: The study explores the effect of Lav pre-treatment on sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into Sham, caecal ligation and puncture (CLP), CLP + Lav (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) groups. Lav was administered by gavage, once a day, for 7 days. Histological analysis was performed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Cytokine and nitrite levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and Griess reagent. Gene and protein expression were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. RESULTS: The levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (BALF: 64%, serum: 59%), interleukin (IL)-1ß (BALF: 63%, serum: 66%) and IL-6 (BALF: 54%, serum: 59%), and nitrite (40%) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (51%), and the level of myeloperoxidase (66%) and malondialdehyde (59%), and cleaved-caspase 3 (84%) and Bax expression (74%) induced by CLP were decreased when given Lav. Additionally, the level of superoxide dismutase (211%) and glutathione (139%), and the expression of Bcl-2 (980%) induced by CLP were increased when given Lav. The increased p-nuclear factor (NF)-κB/NF-κB (72%) and p-inhibitor of κBα (IκBα)/IκBα (77%) induced by CLP could be reversed by Lav. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Lav pre-treatment might protect rats from sepsis-induced ALI via deactivation of the NF-κB pathway. Our research demonstrated the regulatory mechanisms of Lav in sepsis-induced ALI and can provide a theoretical basis for the use of Lav in the treatment of sepsis-induced ALI.
Subject(s)
Acute Lung Injury , Sepsis , Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy , Acute Lung Injury/etiology , Acute Lung Injury/prevention & control , Animals , Lavandula , Lung/metabolism , NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Nitrites , Oils, Volatile , Plant Oils , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sepsis/complications , Sepsis/drug therapy , Sepsis/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of blood activating water relieving method (BAWRM) on heart functions and serum levels of NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF). METHODS: Sixty-four HFNEF patients were admitted to our hospital during January 2011 to June 2012. They were randomly assigned to the treatment group (32 cases) and the control group (32 cases). Patients in the control group received routine Western medical treatment, while those in the treatment group additionally took Chinese medical recipes for activating blood circulation and relieving water retention. Changes of Chinese medical syndromes, E/E', serum NT-proBNP contents were observed between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, their Chinese medical syndromes and E/E' were significantly improved, and serum NT-proBNP contents decreased in the two groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, Chinese medical syndromes, E/E', serum NT-proBNP contents obviously decreased in the treatment group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BAWRM was an effective way to improve the diastolic function of HFNEF patients and lower the serum level of NT-proBNP with confirmative efficacy.