Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced pneumonia by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via AMPK/mTOR/ULK1-mediated autophagy

MXSG activates the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway, promoting autophagy and inhibiting excessive NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by LPS. This subsequently reduces inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-18) levels, thereby mitigating LPS-triggered lung inflammation. The primary active compounds of MXSG that promote autophagy are amygdalin, licoricesaponin G2, and daidzein. These findings offer fresh perspectives on how MXSG mitigates pneumonia, highlighting the anti-inflammatory effects, and reveal potential therapeutic targets for future use in integrative medicine.