RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present study is to investigate the protective effects of asiaticoside on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury in mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>With the sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), forty eight kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups as sham operated, CLP treated, CLP + asiaticoside 15, 45 mg x kg(-1) groups. General conditions and the amount of dead rate of mice were observed. The BUN and Cr levels were observed by the kits. IL-6 in serum was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Kidney tissues were harvested for determination of iNOS expression by Western blotting analysis. The pathologic changes were observed under electron microscope via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with CLP group, the death rate, the levels of BUN, Cr, IL-6, and iNOS protein expression of asiaticoside groups were significantly reduced. The pathologic changes in kidney tissues induced by sepsis were significantly attenuated dose-dependently by asiaticoside under electron microscope.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Asiaticoside has protective effects against sepsis-induced acute kidney injury, which were probably associated with the inhibition of IL-6 in serum and iNOS protein in kidney tissues.</p>