The Effect of Combination of Chamomile and Anthocyanoside on Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rat

Abstract

Background: The study attempts to reveal and compare the effect of using Chamomile, Anthocyanoside and their combination, as anti-inflammatory agent to ameliorate, to prevent or control the development of fibrosis due to Bleomycin (BLM). Methods: Male wistar rats weighting 180-220g were assigned to specific groups. 20 rats were divided to five comparable groups, as (1) saline group, (2) BLM group, (3) Chamomile group, (4) Anthocyanoside group, (5) combination of Anthocyanoside and Chamomile group. Rats of each group received intratracheally 1U/100g of BLM. Inhibitor agents were given as pretreatment and treatment. Each animal received a daily intraperitoneal injection of its treatment. Then, after 3 week, OH-prolin, fibrosis percentage, body weight and lung weight were measured for each rat. Results: BLM treated groups significantly lost weight during first 5 days. Then, the process moves slower and there were some weight gains except in BLM group. In other words, after that, treatments, groups gained weight compared to BLM group. Also, compared to positive control group, OH-prolin was reduced to 49.6, 69.8 and 78.7 in Chamomile, Anthocyanoside and combination group, respectively. As pathological analyses showed fibrosis of Chamomile and Anthocyanoside were reduced to 62.6 and 67.6 respectively and it was also, in combination group, reduced to 84.1. Conclusion: It was concluded from the present study that administration of combination of Chamomile and Anthocyanoside lead to a reduction in Bleomycin-induced tissue fibrosis. The mechanism of suppression is possible through inhibition of immune and inflammatory systems and as inhibitory of fibroblast activity and synthesis of polypeptides.