Prophylactic and curative effect of rosemary leaves extract in a bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis

Figures & data

Figure 1. Chromatographic profiles of the ethanolic extract of rosemary recorded at two UV wavelengths: (a) 280 nm, (b) 254 nm.

Table 1. Total polyphenol contents (TPC) expressed in mg equivalent gallic acid (GAE.g-1 DW), total flavonoid contents (TFC), condensed tannin contents (CTC) expressed in mg equivalent catechin (CE/g DW) and antioxidant activity of Rosmarinus officinalis leaves extract against DPPH radical expressed in IC₅₀ value and iron reducing power (FRAP) expressed in EC₅₀ value.

TPC (mg GAE/g dw)	60.52
TFC (mg CE/g dw)	70.18
CTC (mg CE.g-1 DW)	0.27
DPPH (IC50 μg/ml)	2.23 ± 0.14
FRAP (EC50 mg/ml)	74.13 ± 0.1

Figure 2. Effect of rosemary extract (RO) on bleomycin-induced lipid peroxidation in lung. Results are expressed as means ± S.D. (n = 10), ***p < 0.001 vs C, ##p < 0.01 vs BLM, ###p < 0.001 vs BLM.

Figure 3. Effect of rosemary extract (RO) on bleomycin-induced changes in catalase activity in lung. Results are expressed as means ± S.D. (n = 10), *p < 0.05 vs C, #p < 0.05 vs BLM, ##p < 0.01 vs BLM.

Figure 4. Effect of rosemary extract (RO) on bleomycin-induced changes in glutathione-S-transferase and thiols group levels in lung. Results are expressed as means ± S.D. (n = 10), ***p < 0.001 vs C, **p < 0.01 vs. C, ##p < 0.01 vs BLM, #p < 0.05 vs. BLM.

Table 2. Body weight variations.

Body weight	C	BLM	RO	BLM/RO1	BLM/RO2
Initial (g)	195.5 ± 4.11	183 ± 5.06	200.8 ± 6.75	190 ± 6.10	223.6 ± 11.94
Final (g)	208 ± 3.59	162.5 ± 7.04	210 ± 3.57	190 ± 5.37	258 ± 14.45
Variation of weight (%)	6.8 ± 2.76	−10.52 ± 4.64^a	6.92 ± 2.68	0.25 ± 2.15	15.93 ± 4.25^c

Results are expressed as means ± S.D. (n = 10),^ap < 0.01 vs C, ^bp < 0.05 vs BLM, ^cp < 0.001 vs BLM.

Table 3. Fibrosis score.

Groups	Fibrosis score
Control	0.0 ± 0.0
BLM	3.7 ± 0.3
RO	0.6 ± 0.16^a
BLM/RO1	2.33 ± 0.33^b
BLM/RO2	1.8 ± 0.32^a

Results are expressed as means ± S.D. (n = 10), ^ap < 0.001 vs. BLM; ^bp < 0.01 vs. BLM.

Figure 5. Histopathological findings (H&E) × 100 in lung tissue. (A) BLM, arrows indicate a thickening of interalveolar septum and formation of fibrous mass, asterisk indicates severe inflammation with the presence of large follicles which replace the parenchyma; (B) RO; (C) BLM/RO1, arrows point to a considerable interstitial thickening, but not that of alveolar walls; (D) BLM/RO2, arrows indicate slightly thickened walls without an apparent impairment to lung architecture. One representative example is shown for each group.

Figure 6. Histopathological findings (Masson’s trichrome) × 100 in lung tissue. BLM (A), RO (B), BLM/RO1 (C), BLM/RO2 (D). Arrows indicate condensed bundles of collagen. One representative example is shown for each group.