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AIM: To investigate the effects of methyl palmitate and lutein on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats and explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups:(1) control;(2) LPS;(3) Methyl palmitate; and (4) Lutein groups. Methyl palmitate (300 mg/kg, ip) was administered 3 times per week on alternating days while lutein (100 mg/kg, oral) was given once daily. After 1 wk of vehicle/methyl palmitate/lutein treatment, ALI was induced by a single dose of LPS (7.5 mg/kg, iv). After 24 h of LPS injection, animals were sacrificed then biochemical parameters and histopathology were assessed.

RESULTS: Treatment with methyl palmitate attenuated ALI, as it significantly decreased the lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, the accumulation of the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and histopathological damage. However, methyl palmitate failed to decrease lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in BALF. On the other hand, lutein treatment produced significant anti-inflammatory effects as revealed by significant decrease in accumulation of inflammatory cells in lung, LDH level in BALF and histopathological damage. Methyl palmitate and lutein significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities with significant decrease in the lung malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Importantly, methyl palmitate and lutein decreased the level of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the lung. Lutein also reduced LPS-mediated overproduction of pulmonary nitrite/nitrate (NO 2-/NO 3-), which was not affected by methyl …