Protective effects of lotus plumule ethanol extracts on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive fibrosing disease, characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and remodeling of the lung architecture, which finally result in respiratory failure. Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment for PF， therefore, the development of effective agents is urgently needed. Lotus plumule, the green embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., a plant of the Nymphaeaceae family, is a traditional Chinese food with exceptional nutritional value and its extracts exert prominent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of lotus plumule extracts (LPEs) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF in mice. Therefore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, RT-PCR, and western blot analysis were performed. The histopathological examination demonstrated that LPEs could obviously decrease the degree of alveolitis, deposition of ECM and the production of collagen I (Col-I) in the pulmonary interstitium. In addition, the results showed that LPEs markedly alleviated the expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Additionally, the content of Col-I and hydroxyproline (HYP) was also attenuated. In conclusion, LPEs could ameliorate the BLM-induced lung fibrosis, thus suggesting that LPEs could serve as a potential therapeutic approach for PF.