Effect of valerian extract treatment on experimental pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects and mechanism of valerian extract treatment on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis of rats. Methods After healthy Wistar rats(irrespective of sex)were given diethyl ether inhalation anesthesia, giving a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin at a dose of 5 mg/kg to make a pattern of pulmonary fibrosis. 65 survival rats were randomly divided into four groups: Valerian high-dose groups(n = 16), Valerian low-dose groups(n = 16), Colchicine group(n = 16)and Model group (n = 17).Each group was given a dose of 100 mg/kg valeian extract everyday, a dose of 20 mg/kg valeian extract Valeian extract , a dose of 100μg/kg colchicine and a dose of 10ml/kg after second day. And in each groups, 6 rats were killed on day 7, 10 rats were killed on day 28 after instillation respectively. Rats in control group (n = 8) were instilled with saline intractracheally and saline was given everyday with a dose of 10ml/kg. Control group was killed on day 28. After rats were killed, The right lower pulmonary lobes were harvested for HE-staining, Masson-staining was used to observe the transformation of pulmonary tissue and immunohistochemistry was used to examine transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) which was analyzed by image analysis system. Results No obvious transformation were found in control group. The alveolitis in valerian and colchicine groups were ameliorated, compared with model group on day 7. The expressions of TGF-β1 in control group were lower than that in model group, and the mean integrated optical densities of TGF-β1 in control group were lower than that in mod-el group(P<0.05). The pulmonary fibrosis in valerian and colchicine group were ameliorated, compared with model group on day 28. The expressions of TGF-β1 in valerian and colchicine group were lower than that in model group. There were no significant differences between the valerian group and the colchicine group. Conclusion Valerian extract could reduce the degree of alveolitis and fibrosis induced by bleo-mycin through suppressing of TGF-β1. Key words: Valeriana officinali △/PD; Pulmonary fthrosis; Transforming growth factor beta