Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of essential oil from Radix Angelica Sinensis (EOAS) in septic mice. METHODS: The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected intravenously to set up septic model in mice. The survival rate was recorded during 7 days after LPS injection. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The survival rate was increased significantly by intravenous injection of EOAS (100 mg/kg) after intravenous injection of LPS (25 mg/kg). Within 2 hours before or after LPS (25 mg/kg) injection, the survival rate was increased significantly by EOAS at the dosage of 100 mg/kg,with the highest sur-vival rate when EOAS was injected l hour before LPS. The concentrations of TNF –α and IL-6 in serum were markedly increased by LPS(0.125 mg/kg). And the increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum were decreased remarkably by EOAS at 25-100 mg/kg. CONCLU LPS, this results suggest that EOAS has potential thera peutic effect on sepsis.

Key words: essential oil, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, sepsis, cytokine