TNF and acute respiratory distress syndrome: In a rat model of sepsis-induced ALI, which was established by cecal ligation and puncture, HG ameliorated septic lung injury, reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), and decreased the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).