Saffron Protection against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis has been accepted as an animal model for fibrosis in rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of saffron aqueous extract on this disorder paving the way for more investigation in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in human.
Male Wistar rats (250–300 gr) were instilled a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) via intratracheal tube (n=6) in 2015. Sham group received normal saline. Saffron aqueous extract (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) were given orally in two different treated groups with bleomycin for 28 days. Lung Indices was calculated at the end of this experiment. Lung segments fixed in 10% formaldehyde were used for pathological preparation with Hematoxylin & Eosin and trichrome staining.
The body weight was decreased and lung Indices increased in bleomycin group (P This study introduces saffron as novel anti-fibrotic agent against bleomycin-induced fibrosis due to histological examinations and preventive effects on destructive enzyme release in rats.