A sesquiterpenoid from Ligularia pleurocaulis modulated macrophages polarisation through TLR4 pathway.

An eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoid (EPS), 3-oxo-eremophila-1,7(11)-dien-12,8β-olide, has been isolated from anti-inflammatory folk herbs, Ligularia pleurocaulis. The aim of present study is to explore protective effects of EPS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in acute lung injury (ALI). EPS treatments (40 and 80 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated LPS-stimulated pathological changes in lungs. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro mechanism studies suggest that EPS exerts its protective effects on LPS-induced ALI by regulating macrophage polarisation via suppression of TLR4/MyD88-mediated MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and EPS may be useful for the prevention on ALI in the clinical setting.