Silica induced early fibrogenic reaction in lung of mice ameliorated by Nyctanthes arbortristis extract.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the pharmacological effect of Nyctanthes arbortristis (NAT) leaf extract in the prevention of lung injury induced by silica particles.


METHODS
Lung injury was induced in Swiss mice through inhalation exposure to silica particles (< 5 mu) using a Flow Past Nose Only Inhalation Chamber at the rate of -10 mg/m3 respirable mass for 5 h. Lung bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected between 48 and 72 h was subjected to protein profiling by electrophoresis and cytokine evaluation by solid phase sandwich ELISA. Lung histopathology was performed to evaluate lung injury.


RESULTS
Inhalation of silica increased the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and of the 66 and 63 kDa peptides in the BAL fluid in comparison to sham-treated control. Pre-treatment of silica exposed mice with NAT leaf extract significantly prevented the accumulation of TNF-alpha in the BAL fluid, but the 66 and 63 kDa peptides remained unchanged. The extract was also effective in the prevention of silica-induced early fibrogenic reactions like congestion, edema and infiltration of nucleated cells in the interstitial alveolar spaces, and thickening of alveolar septa in mouse lung.


CONCLUSIONS
NAT leaf extract helps in bypassing silica induced initial lung injury in mice.
Paul
Bhola Nath
BN
Immunobiology Laboratory, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, U.P., India. bholanathpaul@yahoo.com
Prakash
Anand
A
Kumar
Sirish
S
Yadav
Ajay K
AK
Mani
U
U
Saxena
Ashok K
AK
Sahu
Anand Prakash
AP
Lal
Kewal
K
Dutta
Kalyan K
KK
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D029592:Oleaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary
D010936:Plant Extracts; D012822:Silicon Dioxide