Herbal Active Ingredients: Potential for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Lung Injury

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality. The main pathological features of ALI are increased alveolar-capillary membrane permeability, edema, uncontrolled migration of neutrophils to the lungs, and diffuse alveolar damage, resulting in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Glucocorticoids, aspirin, and other anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat ALI. Respiratory supports, such as a ventilator, are used to alleviate hypoxemia. Many treatment methods are available, but they cannot significantly ameliorate the quality of life of patients with ALI and reduce mortality rates. Herbal active ingredients, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, and quinonoids, exhibit advantages for ALI prevention and treatment, but the underlying mechanism needs further study. This paper summarizes the role of herbal active ingredients in anti-ALI therapy and progresses in the understanding of their mechanisms. The work also provides some references and insights for the discovery and development of novel drugs for ALI prevention and treatment.

Baicalin Inhibits Inflammation in Rats with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by the TLR2/MYD88/NF-κBp65 Signaling Pathway

“…Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and other functions [12]. BA can relieve lung injury and also play an important role in clinical medicine [13]. Li et al [14] found that BA could inhibit inflammation and reduce inflammatory factors, thereby achieving the effect of inhibiting the inflammatory response.…”

Scorpion Venom Polypeptide Inhibits Pulmonary Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Systemic Sclerosis-Interstitial Lung Disease Model Mice by Intervening TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway

“…The key mechanism of SSc-ILD pathogenesis is persistent lung damage caused by alveoli macrophage activation, which induces the release of a variety of profibrosis cytokines, prompts the conversion of pulmonary epithelial cells to interstitial cells (EMT), and eventually results in the formation of pulmonary fibrosis [ 21 ]. Recently, TCM has been more and more accepted in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis worldwide [ 22 ]; Yangyin Yiqi Mixture [ 23 ], Nervilia fordii extract [ 24 ], and Inulae Flos [ 25 ] have a good effect on pulmonary fibrosis with few side effects. Although the active role of PESV on SSc-ILD is unclear, a published study has proved that PESV obviously improves fibrosis in rats with doxorubicin-induced acute cardiotoxicity [ 26 ].…”

Exploring the protective mechanism of baicalin in treatment of atherosclerosis using endothelial cells deregulation model and network pharmacology

“…Scutellaria baicalensis has immunomodulatory effects on macrophages and dendritic cells, regulating the shift in cell polarization toward anti-inflammation and producing a preventive effect on foam cell formation, thereby inhibiting the development of AS [ 46 ]. Baicalin is a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and other functions [ 47 , 48 ]. Li et al [ 49 ] observed that baicalin inhibited cigarette smoke-induced inflammation through suppressing the phosphorylation of HDAC2.…”