title: Effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice on amiodarone-induced pneumotoxicity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot is extremely rich in biologically active polyphenols.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We studied the protective effect of A. melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) in a model of amiodarone (AD)-induced pneumotoxicity in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  AD was instilled intratracheally on days 0 and 2 (6.25 mg/kg). AMFJ (5 mL/kg and 10 mL/kg) was given orally from day 1 to days 2, 4, 9, and 10 to rats, which were sacrificed respectively on days 3, 5, 10, and 28 when biochemical, cytological, and immunological assays were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AMFJ antagonized AD-induced increase of the lung weight coefficient. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, AD increased significantly the protein content, total cell count, polymorphonuclear cells, lymphocytes and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase on days 3 and 5. In AMFJ-treated rats these indices of direct toxic damage did not differ significantly from the control values. In lung tissue, AD induced oxidative stress measured by malondialdehyde content and fibrosis assessed by the hydroxyproline level. AMFJ prevented these effects of AD. In rat serum, AD caused a significant elevation of interleukin IL-6 on days 3 and 5, and a decrease of IL-10 on day 3. In AMFJ-treated rats, these indices of inflammation had values that did not differ significantly from the control ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMFJ could have a protective effect against AD-induced pulmonary toxicity as evidenced by the reduced signs of AD-induced direct toxic damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Stefka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valcheva-Kuzmanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Galya
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stavreva
authors.affiliation: Department of Disaster Medicine, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dancheva
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical Immunologyand Allergology, Clinic of Allergology, University Hospital, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Ljudmil
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terziev
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atanasova
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoyanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Anelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
authors.affiliation: Department of Disaster Medicine, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Veneta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shopova
keywords: Aronia melanocarpa; amiodarone; pneumotoxicity; rats