OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect and its mechanism of salviae miltiorrhizae and beta-aescinom natrium on the postburn acute lung injury in rats.

METHODSForty-five rats were randomly divided into sham control (C, n = 9), sodium chloride group (S, n = 9), salviae miltiorrhizae group (M, n = 9), beta-aescinom natrium group (A, n = 9), and combination group (MA, n = 9). The rats in M, A and MA groups were subjected to 30% TBSA III degree scald on the back, and all the rats were sacrificed at 24 PBH. The blood and pulmonary tissue samples were harvested from the rats at 24 PBH for the determination of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA) in peripheral blood, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) contents, and the ratio of wet to dry weights (W/D) of lung tissue.

RESULTSCompared with those in S group, the LAA in blood and the pulmonary tissue contents of MPO, MDA and W/D rate in M and A groups, and especially in MA group, were decreased significantly, but the SOD content in pulmonary tissue increased obviously in M and A groups, especially in MA group. Furthermore, blood LAA was positively correlated with pulmonary tissue MDA content.

CONCLUSIONPostburn intra-pulmonary agglutination and aggregation of PMNs and pulmonary injury by oxygen free radicals (OFRs) and their products could be inhibited by either Salviae Miltiorrhizae or beta-aescinom natrium. In addition, these agents could also increase the tissue content of antioxidant capacity and decrease pulmonary microvascular permeability and lung water content. The results indicated that all the agents used might be effective in prevention and treatment of postburn pulmonary injury, especially when used together.