Protective Effect of Modified Ginseng Baidu Powder Prophylactic Administration on LPS-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Mice

Severe Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Modified Ginseng Baidu Powder (referred to as Baidu Powder) was used for respiratory system diseases caused by colds. To study the effect of Baidu Powder on protecting ARDS mice model and its underlying active ingredients and targets intervening in COVID-19. The optimal LPS concentration was selected for the induction of mouse ARDS model, and the protective effect of Baidu Powder prophylactic administration on LPS-induced ARDS mouse models was explored by mouse survival time analysis, lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, pathological staining, and inflammatory factor detection. On the basis of pharmacodynamics, the network pharmacological analysis was used for target prediction for future mechanism study. 5 mg/kg LPS was selected for the construction of a mouse ARDS model, based on a mortality rate of 87% and the lung W/D ratio of 5.29 ± 0.23. Prophylactic administration of Baidu Powder at 125 g/L significantly reduced death, lung damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) caused by LPS-induced ARDS. The results of network pharmacological analysis showed that 42 target genes of Baidu Powder intervening in COVID-19 were involved in 30 biological processes related to COVID-19 and inflammation, and 11 signaling pathways related to lung diseases or inflammation. 5 mg/kg LPS can successfully establish a mice ARDS disease model; 125 g/L Baidu Powder prophylactic administration does not have toxicity and has a certain effect on protecting ARDS mouse models induced by LPS. Baidu Powder may intervene COVID-19-induced ARDS through multiple targets.