Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of yarrow (Achillea millefulium) extract on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rat. Hydroalcoholic extract of yarrow was prepared using maceration method. Sprague Dawley rats weighing 180 to 220 g were given single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (7.5 IU/kg) or vehicle (saline). They were treated with different doses of oral yarrow extract (400, 800, 1600 mg/kg/day) for two weeks. Histopathological examination of bleomycin-treated animals showed marked alveolar thickening associated with fibroblasts and myofibroblasts proliferation and collagen production in interstitial tissue leading to pulmonary fibrosis. Administration of yarrow extract impaired such damages in lung tissue with a dose-dependent manner. Contractility of lung parenchymal strips were also studied. The force generated by lung strips in response to potassium ions and sodium tungstate was recorded using an isometric transducer on a polygraph. The results indicated that lungs strips isolated from bleomycin-treated fibrotic lungs could generate significantly more contractions when compared to the animals that received yarrow extract after bleomycin. It can be concluded that yarrow extract may be able to impair the rate of fibroblast/myiofibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in lung tissue due to bleomycin. The effect of yarrow may be attributed to active ingredients of the plant with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Key words: Yarrow extract, bleomycin, pulmonary fibrosis, collagen, fibrobalst, myofibroblat, rat.
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