Abstract
Aims and objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating and fatal disease characterized by a severe damage of alveolar epithelial cells, aberrant fibroblasts proliferation, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and collagen accumulation in the interstitial tissue leading to gas exchange abnormalities. This study aimed to investigatethe effect of Thymus vulgaris extract (TVE) rich in phenolic compounds such as rosmarinic acid and Thymolon an experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by Bleomycin (BLM) in Wistar rats.
Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 8 rats each. G1: Control group, G2: BLM group, G3, G4and G5: BLM + TVE at respectively50100 and 200 mg/kgfor 4 weeks. Antioxidant effects of TVE in lung tissues were studied using standard spectrophotometric methodand fibrosis was assessed by histological analysis conforming to Ashcroft score.
Results: Anatomopathological results showed a decrease in the bands of collagen in G4and G5compared toG2. We have also revealed a significant decrease of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in G2 compared with control group. Treatment with TVEwas able to normalize the level of these two enzymes and decreased significantly fibrosis score in G4 and G 5 compared to G2.
Conclusion: This study allowed us to conclude that TVE have a strong antioxidant and antifibrotic power due to its high content of polyphenols.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3279.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021