Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic airway disease with acute exacerbations of varying frequency that is the main cause of disease morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of extracts of flavanol-3-ols rich (%85-92) Juniperus drupacea fruit in the treatment of rats with PPE-induced COPD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty female rats of Wistar Albino breed were randomly divided into four groups: control, porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE), PPE + Methanol Extract (ME), PPE + Water Extracts (WE). The emphysema in the lung tissues of rats and lymphocyte (B cells, Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells), cytokines (Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α)) and blood gas values in blood samples were analyzed.

RESULTS: It was observed that the emphysema occurred in the lungs of rats after PPE exposure, and the number of inflammatory cells, except for NK cells, and IL-6, IL-8 and TNF- αcytokines in their blood increased. Among the blood gas values, PaCO2 increased with emphysema, and PaO2 decreased. The rats with PPE-induced COPD showed a decrease in the number of B cells and NK cells as a result of treatment with J. drupacea fruit extracts.

CONCLUSION: Our results showed that PPE application causes COPD and water and methanol extracts of flavan-3-ols rich J. drupacea fruit can protect from the development of elastase-induced lung injuries as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant factor.