Phœnix dactylifera, L. seed oil alleviates Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and oxidative stress in Wistar rats

Abstract

Objective

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most serious form of interstitial lung disease. We aimed to investigate the effect of Phœnix dactylifera, L. seed oil (DSO) on a murine model of IPF induced by bleomycin (BLM).

Methods

Male Wistar rats were treated with a single intra-tracheal injection of BLM (4 mg/kg) and a daily intraperitoneal injection of DSO (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) for 4 weeks.

Results

Our phytochemical results showed that DSO has an important antioxidant activity with a high content of polyphenols and flavonoids. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed a high amount of oleic and lauric acids and a large quantity of vitamins. Histological examination showed a significant reduction in fibrosis score and collagen bands in the group of rats treated with 75 mg/kg of DSO compared to the BLM group. DSO (75 mg/kg) reversed also the increase in catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while higher doses (150 and 300 mg/kg) are ineffective against the deleterious effects of BLM. We revealed also that DSO has no renal or hepatic cytotoxic effects.

Conclusion

DSO can play antioxidant and antifibrotic effects on rat models of pulmonary fibrosis at the lowest dose administered.

Keywords:

• Lung fibrosis
• oxidative stress
• date seed oil
• vitamins
• fatty acids

Ethical approval

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Author contributions

Sana BAHRI, Raed ABDENNABI and Saloua JAMELLEDINE conceived and designed the research. Sana BAHRI, Raed ABDENNABI, Afef NAHDI, Asma CHAKER, Amine ELGHERYENI and Mona MLIKA conducted experiments. Sana BAHRI and Raed ABDENNABI analyzed data. Sana BAHRI wrote the manuscript. Saloua JAMELEDDINE revised the manuscript All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets used in this investigation are accessible for review upon request from the corresponding author of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This scientific work was funded by the Tunisian Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research.