Preventive Effect of Turmeric against Anti-Mosquito Smoke Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Laboratory Rat

Abstract

Objective: To appraise the preventive effect of turmeric on anti-mosquito coil smoke induced interstitial fibrosis in lungs of Sprague Dawley rats. Study Design: Randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: This study was completed in 10 months from 1 August 2014 to 28 May 2015; conducted at Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi and National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, Pakistan. Material and Methods: Three equal groups of 21 adult albino rats were made. Control Group X was retained in fresh air. Experimental Groups M & T inhaled Mosquito Coil smoke for 12 weeks. Group T also had oral turmeric 300mg/kg body weight. After 12 weeks rats were dissected, and their lung tissues were studied microscopically for the presence of fibrosis. Results: Interstitial Fibrosis was markedly present in the histological sections of lung tissues from experimental group M showing thickened fibrotic alveolar walls and inflammatory cell infiltrate with reduced air spaces in all animals (100%) in group M. Fibrosis was present in 2 out of 7 rats in group T showing a significant protection with only 28.5% of animals with fibrotic lungs. No interstitial fibrosis (0%) was seen in the lung tissues of animals in control group X; all 7 rats showed well-formed alveoli. Conclusions: Interstitial lung fibrosis caused by Anti-Mosquito coil smoke can be protected with the use of turmeric.