Anti-inflammatory role of linden (Tilia spp.) honey in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and mouse model of acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe respiratory condition characterized by inflammatory responses in the lung. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of linden ( Tilia spp.) honey (LH) using both in vitro and in vivo . Pretreatment with LH suppressed TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways by downregulating the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65, iNOS, and COX-2 protein expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, indicating attenuation of inflammatory response. In LPS-injected mice, LH-treated group significantly reduced LPS-induced serum TNF-α levels. Moreover, LH ameliorated lung injury parameters, including the lung wet/dry ratio, total cell counts, protein concentration, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, compared with the LPS-only group. LH also suppressed TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in lung tissue. Collectively, LH may alleviate LPS–mediated inflammation, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic strategy for inflammatory lung diseases.