Pleurotus eryngiiAmeliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Inflammation in Mice

Abstract

Pleurotus eryngii(P. eryngii) is consumed as a fresh cultivated mushroom worldwide and demonstrated to have multiple beneficial effects. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect ofP. eryngiiin mice with acute lung injury (ALI). Intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 μg/site/mouse) induced marked lung inflammation (increase in the number of inflammatory cells, protein leakage, and production of nitric oxide in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) as well as histopathological damage in the lung, 6 h after treatment. Mice administered heat-treatedP. eryngii(0.3–1 g/kg, p.o. (HTPE)) 1 h before LPS challenge showed decreased pulmonary inflammation and ameliorated histopathological damage. These results suggest that HTPE has anti-inflammatory effects against ALI. Thus,P. eryngiiitself may also have anti-inflammatory effects and could be a beneficial food for the prevention of ALI induced by bacterial infection.