AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF PUNICA GRANATUM L. AGAINST BLEOMYCIN INDUCED PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN RATS

Aim: Bleomycin (BLM), a potent anticancer agent widely used in the treatment of cancer is an antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces verticillus. BLM has been reported to cause pulmonary fibrosis that limits the chemotherapeutic efficiency. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the aqueous extract of pomegranate (Punica granatum) against BLM induced pulmotoxicity in rats.  Methods: The experimental rats were divided to 5 groups.  Aqueous extract of Punica granatum peel at 250 and 500 mg/kg, was administered to rats of group III and IV respectively. The rats were induced with BLM. Group I served as normal control and group II as BLM control. Vitamin C at 250 mg/kg b.wt was administered to group V rats. Results: Treatment with aqueous extract of Punica granatum peel (250 and 500 mg/kg, orally) proved to be protective against BLM induced pulmonary fibrosis by normalizing the levels of glycoproteins (hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid) and by improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes- superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The extract also enhanced pulmonary glutathione (GSH) content and suppressed the levels of lipid peroxides in a dose dependent manner with 500 mg dose revealing more defending effect in line with the standard antioxidant, Vitamin C. Conclusion: The observed results indicate that the pomegranate extract at both the doses were effective in curbing the toxic insult of BLM.