Voacangine mitigates lipopolysaccharide-produced sepsis-triggered acute lung injury via inhibition of PERK/PI3K and TLR4/NF-кB/IL-1β pathways in mice.

Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening condition characterised by a systemic inflammatory response to infection, often progressing multiorgan failure. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a well-established bacterial endotoxin, is widely used to induce experimental sepsis and associated with pronounced inflammation, oxidative stress, and extensive tissue injury. Voacangine (VCG), an indole alkaloid derived from Voacanga foetida, possesses recognised antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Accordingly, the present study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of VCG in mitigating LPS-induced ALI in mice, with particular emphasis on the PERK/PI3K and TLR4/NF-кB/IL-1β signaling pathways. Mice were randomly divided to six groups: Normal control (NC); LPS (100 μg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally); LPS + dexamethasone (DEX) (2 mg/kg b.w.); LPS + VCG (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg b.w.), respectively. We evaluated inflammatory cell infiltration, antioxidant status, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, liver toxicity markers, histopathological alterations in liver and lung tissues, and ELISA-based biochemical indices. Our findings showed that LPS administration markedly increased (p < 0.05) inflammatory cell counts, lipid peroxidation, cytokine release, and hepatotoxicity markers, while significantly decreasing (p < 0.05) endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities relative to the NC group. VCG treatment dose-dependently attenuated lipid peroxidation, hepatic toxicity enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and immune cell infiltration, and ameliorated histopathological damage, while restoring antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby preventing organ dysfunction. Furthermore, VCG effectively inhibited activation of the PERK/PI3K and TLR4/NF-кB/IL-1β pathways.