The Effects of Platycodi Radix on the Induction of LPS and the Activation of $NF-{\kappa}Bp$, the Lung Disease of White Rats

Objective & Methods: We examined the effects of Platycodi radix on the process of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$ and inhibitory $(I)-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ alteration in RAW 264.7 cells and acute lung injury in rats. Results: Immunoblot analysis showed that LPS-induced degradation of $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in RAW 264.7 was inhibited by pretreatment of Platycodi radix. The total cells of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by LPS challenge markedly decreased in the Platycodi radix pretreatment rats. Platycodi radix pretreatment also caused a decline in neutrophils infiltration into interstitium of the lung. In the alveolar macrophages and neutrophils, decreased $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$ and inducible nitric oxide synthase and increased $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ immunoreaction were detected in Platycodi radix pretreated rats compared with LPS alone treated ones. Conclusion : It may be concluded that Platycodi radix attenuates the development of LPS-induced inflammation by reduction of $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$ activation and neutrophil-mediated acute lung injury. Platycodi radix would be useful as a therapeutic agent for endotoxin-induced lung disease.