Tanshinone A attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

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E-ISSN： 1791-3004|11|6|4190-4196

ISSN： 1791-2997

Source： Molecular Medicine Reports, Vol.11, Iss.6, 2015-01, pp. : 4190-4196

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Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive fibrotic lung disorder with unknown etiology and a high mortality rate. Tanshinone A (Tan A) is a lipophilic diterpene extracted from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge with diverse biological functions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Tan A on bleomycin (BLM)induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Rats received an intraperitoneal injection of Tan A and normal rats were used as controls. Severe pulmonary edema, inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the BLMtreated rats and the counts of total cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes were significantly increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of those rats. These pathological changes were markedly attenuated by subsequent treatment with Tan A. In addition, BLMinduced increased expression of tumor necrosis factorα, interleukin (IL)1β, IL6, cyclooxygenase2, prostaglandin E2, malondialdehyde, inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in rats, which was also suppressed by Tan A injection. The present findings suggest therapeutic potential of Tan A for pulmonary fibrosis.