Inhibitory effects of sasanquasaponin on over-expression of ICAM-1 and on enhancement of capillary permeability induced by burns in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sasanquasaponin (SQS) on ICAM-1 expression and capillary permeability induced by burns in rats. Male adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to burns in the presence or absence of SQS, and then intravenously injected with Evans blue (60.0 mg/kg body weight). The levels of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) in sera were assayed using ELISA and the expression levels of transmembrane ICAM-1 (mICAM-1) in aorta were determined by Western blots and ICAM-1 mRNA levels were measured using semi-quantification RT-PCR. The capillary permeability was determined spectrophotometrically. The results showed that SQS markedly lowered the levels of sICAM-1 in sera, and considerably inhibited the over-expression as well as transcription of mICAM-1 in rat aorta. In addition, SQS dramatically inhibited the enhancement of dermal capillary permeability induced by burns in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that SQS, developed from Chinese traditional herbs, might be effective in decreasing inflammation induced by burns.