Abstract: AIM: To study the effect of matrine on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its mechanism. METHODS: Pulmonary fibrosis model was estalished in male Wistar rats by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM). Then the rats were given matrine by the intraperitoneal injection. Histological changes of the lungs were evaluated by HE stain and Masson's trichrome stain. Collagen content of the lung tissue was assessed by hydroxyproline concentration. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) of the lung tissue were measured by colorimetric method. RESULTS: Pulmonary fibrosis of matrine group (OM) and hydrocortisone group (P) was improved as compared with that of group BLM. Hydroxyproline concentrations of up (OM) and group were lower than that of group BlM (P < 0. 05); The levels of MDA in the lung tissue were significantly increased in group OM and group P as compared with group BlM (P < 0.01). Therapeutic efficacy of the matrine was the same as the treatment of hormone in the rat model of bleomycin-induced pulmonarγfibrosis. CONCLUSION: Matrine alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats, which reated to the effectively inhibition of oxidative stress in lung tissues.

Key words: matrine, pulmonary fibrosis, oxidative stress