Abstract
Context: Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease without effective treatment. Rosemary is appreciated since ancient times for its medicinal properties, while biomolecules originated from the plant have an antioxidant and antifibrotic effect. Objective: The effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) leaves extract (RO) on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis were investigated. Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were given a single dose of bleomycin (BLM, 4 mg/kg, intratracheal), while RO (75 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered 3 days later and continued for 4 weeks (BLM/RO1-curative group). Alternatively, RO was administered 2 weeks before BLM and continued 15 days thereafter (BLM/RO2-prophylactic group). Antioxidant activities of RO and lung tissues were studied by standard methods. Histological staining revealed lung architecture and collagen deposition. RO was characterized for its polyphenol content and by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: RO polyphenol content was 60.52 mg/g of dry weight, carnosic and rosmarinic acids being major components (6.886 and 2.351 mg/g). Antioxidant effect of RO (DPPH and FRAP assay) expressed as IC50 values were 2.23 μg/mL and 0.074 μg/mL, respectively. In BLM/RO1 and BLM/RO2 lung architecture was less compromised compared to BLM, which was reflected in lower fibrosis score (2.33 ± 0.33 and 1.8 ± 0.32 vs 3.7 ± 0.3). Malondialdehyde levels were attenuated (141% and 108% vs 258% of normal value). Catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities were normalized (103% and 117% vs 59%, 85% and 69% vs 23%, respectively). Discussion and conclusion: RO has a protective effect against BLM-induced oxidative stress and lung fibrosis due to its phenolic compounds.
Highlights
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most serious form of interstitial pneumonia
Quantification of the ethanol extract constituents of Rosmarinus officinalis Quantification of total polyphenols was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay based on the colour intensity of the expressed in mg equivalent catechin (CE/g DW) and antioxidant activity of Rosmarinus officinalis leaves extract against DPPH radical expressed in IC50 value and iron reducing power (FRAP) expressed in EC50 value
We aimed to investigate the effects of Rosmarinus officinalis leaves extract on lung fibrosis induced by BLM in adult Wistar rats in the present study
Summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most serious form of interstitial pneumonia This disease of unknown cause affects a population between 50 and 70 years with a median survival after diagnosis of only 3–5 years. The long prevailing concept, which was that of chronic inflammation leading to fibrosis is controversial (Gauldie 2003), but there has been a shift in the understanding of the physiopathology of IPF from that of a chronic inflammatory state to abnormal wound healing. This concept is based on the important interaction between alveolar epithelium and lung fibroblasts more than on alveolar inflammation. The management of IPF needs to investigate the effect of new molecules with an acceptable tolerance profile in clinical trials
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