Feitai attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a common consequence of numerous pulmonary diseases. The current therapeutic approaches for this condition are unsatisfactory. Feitai, a composite formula consisting of several herbs, is used in China as a folk remedy for treating patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. In this study, we extensively investigate the effects and mechanisms of Feitai on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. One hundred and twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, referred to as the saline-water, saline-Feitai, BLM-water, and BLM-Feitai groups. Following a single instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg) or saline, rats were orally administered Feitai at a dose of 3 g/kg body weight or sterilized distilled water once daily. Rats were killed at 7, 14, or 28 d post-BLM. Inflammatory cell count, protein concentration, and lactate dehydrogenase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured, and myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxide content in lung homogenates were analyzed. Treatment with Feitai inhibited lung fibrotic progression induced by BLM, as indicated by the decrease in lung hydroproline content and lung fibrosis score at 28 d post-BLM. This was accompanied by significant amelioration of BLM-induced body weight loss, lung edema, and inflammatory response during the development of lung injury in the acute phase. The results strongly indicate the beneficial effects of Feitai in protecting against BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, the inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation were inhibited by Feitai, suggesting that the effect of this formula on BLM-induced lung injury and fibrosis is associated with antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Gong
Li-Kun
LK
State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Li
Xiang-Hong
XH
Wang
Hui
H
Zhang
Ling
L
Cai
Yan
Y
Qi
Xin-Ming
XM
Liu
Lin-Lin
LL
Liu
Yong-Zhen
YZ
Wu
Xiong-Fei
XF
Chen
Fang-Ping
FP
Huang
Cheng-Gang
CG
Ren
Jin
J
D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D001761:Bleomycin