title: Protective effect of Houttuynia cordata extract on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
abstract: The present study aimed to examine the antioxidant properties of Houttuynia cordata (HC) and its protective effect on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Results showed that aqueous extract of HC exhibited a different magnitude of antioxidant activities in all model systems tested. Although HC showed weaker free radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity than vitamin E, its anti-lipid peroxidation activity in rat liver homogenate was close to that of vitamin E. In animal studies, HC significantly decreased the levels of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, hydroxyproline, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, an increase in the concentration of catalase was noted in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. HC also remarkably improved the morphological appearance of the lung of bleomycin-treated rats. These results suggest that HC possesses a protective effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Interestingly, this protective effect was more pronounced than that of vitamin E. In conclusion, the protective effect of HC on pulmonary fibrosis could be partly associated with the reduction of oxidative damage caused by bleomycin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lean-Teik
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Feng-Lin
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chia-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Chun-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000009:adverse effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052859:Houttuynia; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; C442781:Houttuynia cordata extract; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001761:Bleomycin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D006909:Hydroxyproline