Shahrzad Molavinia - Medicinal Plant Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mehdi Goudarzi - Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohammad Ebrahim Azemi - Medicinal Plant Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Zahra Basir - Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
Zahra Nazari Khorasgani - Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohammad Reza Rashidi Nooshabadi - Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Rezvan Ebrahimi - Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohammad Javad Khodayar - Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Objective: Paraquat (PQ) is a highly toxic herbicide that causes pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and no specific antidote is available against it. Teucrium polium L. is a plant that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study evaluates the preventive and therapeutic effects of T. polium extract (TPE) against PQ-induced lung fibrosis in rats.Materials and Methods: We divided rats into five groups of eight. Groups one and two received saline and PQ (۲۰ mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. Groups three to five were treated with TPE (۵۰, ۱۰۰, and ۲۰۰ mg/kg, by gavage) started one week before PQ administration and lasted three weeks after PQ administration.Results: Our findings showed that PQ significantly increased lung malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, hydroxyproline, lung index, Ashcroft score, red blood cells accumulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Moreover, PQ decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione content. The results of hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining indicated that PQ destroyed lung parenchyma and developed PF (p<۰.۰۵ to p<۰.۰۰۱). Gavage with TPE significantly improved biochemical and histological abnormalities induced by PQ in rats (p<۰.۰۵ to p<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: The current survey indicated that treatment with TPE could reduce and reverse PQ-induced PF, which may be due to the phenolic compounds present in TPE.

Lung injury, Oxidative stress, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Paraquat, Teucrium polium