Geraniin attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury via inhibiting NF-κB and activating Nrf2 signaling pathways

// Guangfa Zhu 1, 2 , Xi Xin 1 , Yan Liu 2 , Yan Huang 1 , Keng Li 2 , Chunting Wu 1 1 Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, P.R. China 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, P.R. China Correspondence to: Guangfa Zhu, email: guangfa_zhu@yahoo.com Keywords: geraniin, LPS, Nrf2, lung injury Received: November 16, 2016      Accepted: January 13, 2017      Published: February 09, 2017 ABSTRACT Geraniin, a typical ellagitannin isolated from Phyllanthusurinaria Linn , has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of the study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of geraniin on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. The mice were intranasal adminisration of LPS for 12 h. Geraniin was intra-peritoneal injection 1 h after LPS treatment. The results showed that geraniin significantly attenuated LPS-induced pathological changes in the lung. Geraniin also inhibited LPS-induced macrophages and neutrophils infiltration in the lung. Geraniin significantly attenuated LPS-induced elevation of MPO level. LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β production were markedly suppressed by treatment of geraniin. Furthermore, geraniin inhibited NF-κB activation in LPS-induced ALI. In addition, geraniin was found to up-regulate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. In conclusion, these data suggested that geraniin had therapeutic effects in LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting NF-κB and activating Nrf2 signaling pathways.