Abstract
The aim of the current study was to investigate the protective effect of naringin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Twenty-four Wistar rats randomly divided into four groups (control, bleomycin alone, bleomycin + naringin 40, and bleomycin + naringin 80) were used. Rats were administered a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg; via the tracheal cannula) alone or followed by either naringin 40 mg/kg (orally) or naringin 80 mg/kg (orally) or water (1 mL, orally) for 14 days. Rats and lung tissue were weighed to determine the lung index. TNF-α and IL-1β levels, hydroxyproline content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assayed. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, and 0.1% toluidine blue. TNF-α, IL-1β, and MDA levels and hydroxyproline content significantly increased (p < 0.01) and GPx and SOD activities significantly decreased in bleomycin group (p < 0.01). Naringin at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-1β activity, hydroxyproline content, and MDA level (p < 0.01) and increased GPx and SOD activities (p < 0.05). Histological evidence supported the results. These results show that naringin has the potential of reducing the toxic effects of bleomycin and may provide supportive therapy for conventional treatment methods for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Highlights
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and devastating lung disease characterized by deposition of extracellular matrix which leads to lung remodeling
Treatment with bleomycin resulted in marked decrease in body weight compared to control group (p < 0.01)
Naringin (40 mg/kg) showed no significant change in body weight and lung index compared to bleomycin group
Summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and devastating lung disease characterized by deposition of extracellular matrix which leads to lung remodeling. And accurate diagnosis of the disease is important. From the time of diagnosis, the average survival time is 2.8–4.2 years which is worse than some types of cancer [2]. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis mostly occurs after the age of sixty and is more common in men. Pulmonary fibrosis progresses slowly and insidiously for many patients; approximately in 10– 15% of patients, the course of the disease is much more rapid and the acute exacerbation of the disease is a highly lethal clinical event [3, 4]. It is necessary to develop new types of drugs
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