Amelioration of lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury in mice by p-coumaric acid through att enuation of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Acute lung injury is characterized by severe acute inflammation due to activation of various inflammatory cascades. This may either lead to resolution phase by adopting fibrotic stage or there may be respiratory failure leading to death. P-coumaric acid (PCA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound possesses an excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-tumour effect. The present study was aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of PCA on LPS induced acute lung injury in mice. Mice were administered PCA (25, 50 and 100mg/kg bwt) intraperitoneally for a week and after that LPS was administered intratracheally @ 2 mg/kg bwt. Mice were sacrificed after 24 hours of LPS administration. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) and lungs were collected and protein concentration in BALF and wet/dry ratio of lungs were estimated. Biochemical parameters like MPO activity, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes activity, levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), NF-kβ activity, histopathology, immunostaining (iNOS and caspase-3) were carried out. It was concluded that PCA @ 100 mg/kg bwt had significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect by reducing the cytokine storm and decreasing the infiltration of the inflammatory cells, scavenging the free radicals and reducing apoptosis.