Protective effect of Launaea procumbens (L.) on lungs against CCl4-induced pulmonary damages in rat

Abstract

Background: Launaea procumbens (L.) is traditionally used in the treatment of various human ailments including pulmonary damages. The present study was arranged to evaluate the role of Launaea procumbens methanol extract (LME) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative pulmonary damages in rat.

Methods: 36 Sprague-Dawley male rats (170-180 g) were randomly divided into 06 groups. After a week of acclamization, group I was remained untreated while group II was given olive oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) orally, groups III, IV, V and VI were administered CCl4, 3 ml/kg body weight (30% in olive oil i.p.). Groups IV, V were treated with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg of LME whereas group VI was administered with 50 mg/kg body weight of rutin (RT) after 48 h of CCl4 treatment for four weeks. Antioxidant profile in lungs were evaluated by estimating the activities of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), quinone reductase (QR) and reduced glutathione (GSH). CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) with conjugation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damages, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) counts and histopathology.

Results: Administration of CCl4 for 6 weeks significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH concentration while increased TBARS contents and DNA damages in lung samples. Co-treatment of LME and rutin restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH contents. Changes in TBARS concentration and DNA fragmentation were significantly (p < 0.01) decreased with the treatment of LME and rutin in lung. Changes induced with CCl4 in histopathology of lungs were significantly reduced with co-treatment of LME and rutin.

Conclusion: Results of present study revealed that LME could protect the lung tissues against CCl4-induced oxidative stress possibly by improving the antioxidant defence system.

Figure 1

(A-D) Effect of LME treatments on tissue protein (A), antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT) (B), peroxidase (POD) (C) superoxide dismutase (SOD) (D) in lungs of various groups in rat. I: control; II: vehicle (olive oil + DMSO); III: CCl₄ 3 ml/kg; IV: CCl₄ + rutin 50 mg/kg; V: CCl₄ + LME 100 mg/kg; VI: CCl₄ + LME 200 mg/kg; ** (P < 0.01) show significance from the control group. b (P < 0.01) show significance from the CCl₄ group. Mean ± SE (n = 06 rats).

Figure 2

Agarose gel showing DNA damage by CCl₄ and preventive effect of Launaea procumbens extracts in different groups. Lanes (from left), Control (1–4), CCl₄ (5–8), 100 mg/kg LME (9, 12) 200 mg/kg LME (13, 16), 50 mg/kg RT (17, 18), DNA marker (M).

Figure 3

Effect of LME on lung morphology; Slides (from left) Control (A), CCl₄ (B, C), 100 mg/kg LME (D) 200 mg/kg LME (E) 50 mg/kg RT (F).