The study of using cordyceps-astragalus-salvia miltiorrhiza to treat acute lung injury induced by paraquat poisoning in rats

Abstract

Objective: To study the therapy of cordyceps-astragalus-salvia miltiorrhiza in treating acute lung injury and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis induced by paraquat poisoning. Methods: All 120 adult Wister male rats were randomly assigned to three groups, the paraquat poisoning group (rats were intragastric administration paraquat 50 mg/kg body weight once at the beginning) , the cordyceps-astragalus-salvia miltiorrhiza therapy group (rats were given cordyceps-astragalus-salvia miltiorrhiza 90 mg/kg body weight intragastric administration half an hour after paraquat was given, then the same dose was given once a day) ; control group (rats were intragastric administration with physiological saline) . At 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day rats were sacrificed postanesthetic respectively after paraquat exposure, sample of lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) , and venous blood were collected. GSH, SOD, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and HYP in plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) , and the lung homogenates were determined. Optical microscope was performed to examine pathological changes in lung. Results: Each experimental time point paraquat group and the treatment group rats serum SOD content significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05) . Each experimental time point the treatment group rats serum SOD levels increased significantly than that of paraquat group (P<0.05) . Each experimental time point paraquat group rats serum GSH content significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group rats 7 days time GSH content significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group 21 days, 28 days GSH content was increased significantly than that of the paraquat group (P<0.05) . Each experimental time point paraquat group rats alveolar lavage SOD content was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group 7 days, 14 days time SOD content was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) , Treatment group 21 days, 28 days SOD content was increased significantly than that of the paraquat group (P<0.05) . Each experimental time point paraquat group and the treatment group rats alveolar lavage GSH content significantly were lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group days 14 and 21 days, 28 days GSH content was increased significantly than that of the paraquat group (P<0.05) . Each experimental time point paraquat group rats alveolar lavage TNF α levels was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group 7 days, 14 days the rat alveolar lavage TNF α levels was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group 21 days, 28 days TNF α content significantly was decreased than that of paraquat group (P<0.05) . Paraquat group days 14 and 21 days, 28 days HYP content was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group 21 days HYP content was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05) . Treatment group 28 days time HYP content in lung tissue of rats was significantly decreased than that of the paraquat group (P<0.05) . Each experimental time point paraquat group rat lung tissue (tissue homogenate) TGF-β1 content was higher than that of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Under optical microscope, the tissue damage of lung was aggravated, and reduced after cordyceps-astragalus-salvia miltiorrhiza was administrated. Conclusion: Cordyceps-astragalus-salvia miltiorrhiza can reduce inflammation factor releasing, and relieve lung injury. It has therapeutic effect on lung injury induced by paraquat poisoning.