Preventive Effect of Arctium lappa Polysaccharides on Acute Lung Injury through Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of polysaccharides extracted from the roots of Arctium lappa (ALP) against acute lung injury (ALI) models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The polysaccharides were extracted and characterized, and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities were assessed. The findings demonstrated that ALP could mitigate the infiltration of inflammatory cells and reduce alveolar collapse in LPS-induced ALI in mice. The expression levels of the pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α decreased, while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 increased. Furthermore, the administration of ALP improved the activities of lung antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH, and CAT, and lowered MDA levels. These results suggest that ALP exhibits a preventive effect on ALI and has potential as an alternative treatment for lung injury.