Tanshinone IIA attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive fibrotic lung disorder with unknown etiology and a high mortality rate. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a lipophilic diterpene extracted from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge with diverse biological functions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Tan IIA on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Rats received an intraperitoneal injection of Tan IIA and normal rats were used as controls. Severe pulmonary edema, inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the BLM-treated rats and the counts of total cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes were significantly increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of those rats. These pathological changes were markedly attenuated by subsequent treatment with Tan IIA. In addition, BLM-induced increased expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2, malondialdehyde, inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in rats, which was also suppressed by Tan IIA injection. The present findings suggest therapeutic potential of Tan IIA for pulmonary fibrosis.