Ocimum gratissimum aqueous extract attenuates inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice

Despite the availability of antiviral, glucocorticoid, and respiratory support therapies, there remains very few specific treatments for acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we explored the potential of Ocimum gratissimum aqueous extract (OGE) in alleviating ALI induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a model mirroring the inflammatory response observed in viral infections. Using an LPS-induced injury model, similar to viral pathogenesis, we assessed OGE's ability to diminish the expression of viral inflammation-related factors. Results revealed that the group treated with LPS exhibited notable inflammatory cell infiltration and alveolar hemorrhage compared to the untreated control group, while pre-treatment with OGE at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day significantly attenuated these pathological changes. Furthermore, we evaluated the levels of inflammatory mediators in the serum. The LPS-treated group displayed a substantial increase in IL-6 levels while pre-treatment with OGE led to IL-6 down-regulation, supporting other studies where OGE reduced IL-6, one of the primary inflammatory factors, in other LPS models. These findings suggest that OGE may serve as an effective inhibitor of LPS-induced ALI, positioning this herbal medicine as a potential future treatment for ALI.