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.