Early and late preventive effect of Nigella sativa on the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats: An experimental study

• Published in: Avicenna journal of phytomedicine Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 263 - 275
• Main Authors: Poursalehi, Hamid Reza, Samareh Fekri, Mitra, Sharifi Far, Fariba, Mandegari, Ali, Izadi, Atefe, Mahmoodi, Rahil, Nematollahi, Hadi, Porgholamhosein, Fateme, Ghorani, Vahideh, Samareh Fekri, Masome
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Bleomycin; Hydroxyproline; Nigella Sativa; Original; Pulmonary inflammation Fibrosis; Bleomycin; Nigella sativa; Pulmonary inflammation Fibrosis; Hydroxyproline
• ISSN: 2228-7930; 2228-7949
• DOI: 10.22038/ajp.2018.26259.1951

Pulmonary fibhrosis is a disease of the connective tissues in the respiratory system. has been used for the treatment of pulmonary diseases like asthma. This study investigated the early and late preventive effect of methanolic extract of on a bleomycin- induced pulmonary fibrosis model. This study was carried out using 52 rats. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by a single endotracheal injection of bleomycin (5 mg/kg). Extract of (500 mg/kg per day) or methylprednisolone succinate (4 mg/kg per day) was injected intraperitoneally in two periods (i.e. days 1-14 as early preventive group and days 15-28 days as late preventive group). The lung tissues were histologically examined at the end of each period and inspected for the amount of hydroxyproline and biomarkers of oxidative stress. The pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis were significantly decreased in groups treated with methylprednisolone and extract compared to bleomycin group in both early and late prevention groups (p<0.001). The hydroxyproline concentration in pulmonary tissue was significantly decreased in and methylprednisolone groups compared to the bleomycin group in both prevention groups (p<0.001). Significant reductions in lipid peroxidation (p<0.001) and increases in catalase activity were also observed in and methylprednisolone groups compared to bleomycin group. This study suggested that extract is effective for early and late prevention of pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation. However, more studies are needed to identify its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic mechanisms in the respiratory system.