Bakuchiol reduces the severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced pneumonia in mice by attenuating inflammatory responses

Abstract

BackgroundPneumonia has become a leading cause of death due to its high morbidity rates worldwide. Pneumonia is caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), which is a prominent airway pathogen. MP infection is usually self-limiting, but an alarming increase in cases has recently developed into refractory, severe, and even fatal pneumonia. ObjectiveThe objective of the current work was to study the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of bakuchiol in ameliorating MP-induced pneumonia in mice. MethodologyBALB/c mice were challenged with MP (100 µl) via nasal drops for 2 days to induce pneumonia, and bakuchiol (25 mg/kg) was given concurrently to the mice for 3 days. Thereafter, measurements of lung weight, MPO, and NO concentrations were done. The corresponding kits were used to analyze the GSH, SOD, and MDA concentrations. The DNA contents of MP were assessed by PCR, and the total cells in BALF were counted. The corresponding kits were used to measure NF-κB levels and examine the inflammatory cytokine levels in the BALF samples. The lung histopathology was assessed to identify the histological changes. ResultsIn pneumonia-induced mice, the lung weight was significantly reduced after treatment with 25 mg/kg of bakuchiol. The bakuchiol treatment exhibited an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties on the pneumonia mice. Bakuchiol also lowered the NF-κB level and attenuated histological alterations in the lungs of pneumonia-induced mice. Conclusion: In summary, our findings exhibited that bakuchiol significantly reduced inflammation induced by MP in a mouse model of pneumonia. As a result, it has potential as a future salutary agent for the pneumonia treatment.