title: Thymoquinone effectively alleviates lung fibrosis induced by paraquat herbicide through down-regulation of pro-fibrotic genes and inhibition of oxidative stress.
abstract: The potential preventive and therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and its molecular mechanism were evaluated in paraquat (PQ)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. TQ was administered orally at the doses of 20 and 40mg/kg during the course and after development of fibrosis. Pathological changes, expressions of genes involved in fibrogenesis, hydroxyproline (HP) and oxidative stress parameters were determined in the lung tissues. TQ dose-dependently recovered the pathological changes induced by PQ. TQ decreased hydroxyproline content, lipid peroxidation and restored the antioxidant enzymes to the normal values. In molecular level, expressions of TGF-β1, α-SMA, collagen 1a1 and collagen 4a1 genes were also returned to the control level by TQ. This study indicated that TQ has the preventive and therapeutic potentials for the treatment of lung fibrosis by inhibition of oxidative stress and down-regulation of profibrotic genes.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutics Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319, Iran; Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319 , Iran. Electronic address: f.pourgholamhosein@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pourgholamhossein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy Herbal and Traditional Medicines Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319, Iran. Electronic address: sharififar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sharififar
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutics Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319, Iran; Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319 , Iran. Electronic address: rokhsana66@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rokhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rasooli
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319 , Iran. Electronic address: leyla.pourgholi5@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pourgholi
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319 , Iran. Electronic address: 89bahar73@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakhaeipour
authors.affiliation: Central Research Laboratory, Deputy of Research, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319, Iran. Electronic address: hojjatfekri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hojjat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samareh-Fekri
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7617939555, Iran. Electronic address: dr.iranpour.86@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iranpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft-Bagh Blvd., Kerman 7616911319 , Iran; Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Afzalipour's Hospital, Imam Highway, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7616913911, Iran. Electronic address: alimandegary@kmu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandegary
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016227:Benzoquinones; D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C544013:alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse; C003466:thymoquinone; D010269:Paraquat
keywords: Gene expression; Oxidative stress; Paraquat; Pulmonary fibrosis; Thymoquinone