Author/Authors :
Bahtouee, Mehrzad Department of Internal Medicine - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr , Tavosi, Zahra Department of Internal Medicine - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr , Fatemikia, Hossein Department of Physiology - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Pourkhalili, Khalil Department of Physiology - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr , Kim, Euikyung Department of Toxicology - College of Veterinary Medicine - Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea , Rahimi, Hamid Reza Department of Pathology - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr , hamid.Esmaili, Abdol Department of Pathology - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr , Hajivandi, Abdollah Department of Biostatistics - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr , Hassan, Yaghoob Research Center - Bushehr University of Medical Science, Bushehr , Seyedian, Ramin Department of Pharmacology - Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr
Abstract :
Background: Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis has been accepted as an animal model for fibrosis in
rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of saffron aqueous extract on this disorder
paving the way for more investigation in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in human.
Methods: Male Wistar rats (250–300 gr) were instilled a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) via
intratracheal tube (n=6) in 2015. Sham group received normal saline. Saffron aqueous extract (50
mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) were given orally in two different treated groups with bleomycin for 28 days.
Lung Indices was calculated at the end of this experiment. Lung segments fixed in 10% formaldehyde
were used for pathological preparation with Hematoxylin & Eosin and trichrome staining.
Results: The body weight was decreased and lung Indices increased in bleomycin group (P<0.5).
Bleomycin administration increased myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde and finally TNF-α in lung
tissue homogenates (P<0.05) compared with sham group. The fibrotic process and thickening of
alveolar septa in treated rats with bleomycin were increased by H&E and Masson Trichrome staining.
Saffron treatment (50 and 100 mg/kg) attenuated the increase in MDA (264.43±10.4 nmol/g by the
higher dose versus 378.4±18.1nmol/g), MPO (0.19±0.03 and 0.13± 0.04 IU/ml versus 0.39.2±0.05
IU/ml) and TNF-α level (18.42±3.7 ng/ml and14.31±3.6 ng /ml versus 35.32±4.2) in lung
homogenates compared to bleomycin group (P<0.05). It decreased collagen accumulation and
alveolar destructive patterns in pulmonary fibrosis.
Conclusion: This study introduces saffron as novel anti-fibrotic agent against bleomycin-induced
fibrosis due to histological examinations and preventive effects on destructive enzyme release in rats.
Keywords :
Bleomycin , Fibrosis , Rat , Saffron