title: Preventive effects of pomegranate seed extract on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and many antioxidant agents have been used for the treatment of this disease in animals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antioxidant effects of pomegranate seed extract (PSE) on bleomycin treated rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Spraque - Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: rats in groups I (bleomycin) and II (control) were given a single dose of bleomycin (7.5 IU/kg, intratracheally) in the bleomycin group and same amount of saline in the control, respectively. Treatment groups (III-V) were given PSE (100,200,400 mg/kg) orally a week before the bleomycin injection and this was continued for 3 weeks. At day 28, animals were sacrificed and lungs were removed for histological investigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological analysis showed that PSE could prevent pathological changes that were seen in the bleomycin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the present study showed that hydroalcoholic extracts of pomegranate seeds had a significant protective effect against bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by its antioxidant properties. The highest protective effect was observed for the 400 mg/kg dose.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hemmati
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Annahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaie
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Pegah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Darabpour
keywords: Antioxidants; Bleomycin; Pulmonary Fibrosis