Objective        To observe the protective effect of gentiopicroside on acute lung injury in sepsis mice.       Methods       The mouse model of septic acute lung injury was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Eighty 18-22 g male mice were randomly divided into a sham operation group (group A)

a model group (group B)

a low-dose gentiopicroside group (25 mg/kg

group C) and a high-dose gentiopicroside group (50 mg/kg

group D)

respectively (n=20). The mice were separately given a tail vein injection of gentiopicroside or normal saline at 30 min before CLP. At 12 h after operation

the contents of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA

and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA)

myeloperoxidase (MPO)

inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO in lung tissues were determined by biochemical methods. The histopathological changes of lung tissues were observed under a light microscope.       Results       Compared with group B

the contents of TNF-α

IL-6 and total protein in BALF and the levels of MDA

MPO

iNOS and NO in lung tissues decreased significantly in group C and group D (P0.05

P0.01)

and the pathological changes of lung tissues were attenuated by gentiopicroside.       Conclusion       Gentiopicroside

which can effectively attenuate inflammatory responses

plays a protective role in septic acute lung injury.