Abstract
Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is the most devastating form of interstitial lung disease. Currently, available therapies are ineffective and have significant adverse effects. Medicinal plants rich of bioactives compounds can be a good therapeutic alternative.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Rosemary leaves extract (RO) on Bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis in wistar rats.
Methods: Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each. G1: Control group, G2: BLM group, G3: RO group, G4: BLM + RO group. BLM was administered by a single intra tracheal injection (4 mg/Kg) to G2 and G4. RO was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of (75 mg / kg/day) for 4 weeks to G3 and G4. The later received RO 3 days after BLM injection. At the end of the protocol, all rats were sacrificed and lungs were extracted. Fibrosis was assessed conforming fibrosis Ashcroft score. Oxidative stress was evaluated in lung homogenate by measuring lipid peroxidation levels, Thiol group content, Catalase and Glutathione-S-Transferase activities. Statistical significance was determined by ANOVA followed by Sidak's Test .
Results : Histological assessments revealed a significant reduction in fibrosis score in G4 compared to G2. BLM increased Malondialdehyde content and decreased Glutathione S-Transferase, catalase and Thiol group levels in G2 compared to G1.Treatment by RO (G4) restored significantly the activities of antioxidant enzymes and Thiol group content and decreased Malondialdehyde concentration compared to G2.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that RO can attenuate BLM induced lung fibrosis in wistar rats by its antioxidant and antifibrotic proprieties.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016