ABSTRACT
Objective: To prepare the dry powder of oridonin for inhalation and to investigate its pharmacodynamics on rat acute lung injury(ALI). Methods: Oridonin nanosuspensions were prepared using the precipitation method, and then freeze-dried to obtain the dry powder with glucose, sucrose, lactose or mannitol as the lyophilization protectants. The rat ALI model was established by inhaling hydrochloric acid. The therapeutic effect of oridonin was explored on the model. Results: The oridonin nanosuspensions were small to 100 nm in size and the polydispersing index was 0.115. The fluidity, containing mannitol was good and the deposition rate in effective parts of the dry powder was 31.55%. The therapeutic effect of oridonin dry powder on the ALI model was good according to the anatomy and pathology. Conclusion: Oridonin dry powder might be a promising formulation for the treatment of ALI.