Influence of total flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis on Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its mechanism / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the influence of total flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis (TFSB) on Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and investigate the relative mechanism. Methods The pulmonary fibrosis model was established by intratracheal injection of Bleomycin. After 28 d, rats with TFSB treatment by ig administration once a day were killed. The levels of T-AOC, GSH, and MPO in serum were measured and analyzed and the fixed parts of the lung tissue were obtained for HE and Masson staining for histopathological examination. The influences of TFSB on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad2, Smad7, α-SMA, and Collagen I mRNA in lung tissue of rats with Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis were assayed by RT-PCR. Results Compared with the model group, the levels of T-AOC and GSH in serum were dramatically increased and the level of MPO was decreased remarkably after TFSB treatment; The alveolitis and fibrosis extent were attenuated after TFSB treatment (P< 0.05, 0.01), and the expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad2, α-SMA, and Collagen I mRNA were decreased, and the expression level of Smad7 mRNA was increased (P<0.05, 0.01) significantly. Conclusion TFSB could have mitigable effect on Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. The mechanisms might be related to the anti-oxidative damage, the inhibition of activation of inflammatory cell infiltration, and the regulation of TGF-β1/Smad signal pathway.