Casticin Improves Respiratory Dysfunction and Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation via Inhibition of NF-ĸB in a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model of Chronic Cigarette Smoke-Exposed Rats

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2020 Nov 17:14:5019-5027. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S277126. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Objective: The present study was conducted to elucidate the protective effect of Casticin against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rats.

Methods: The COPD in rats was induced by the controlled cigarette smoke, and CST (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) was injected into the cigarette-smoke exposed rats. Blood was taken from the abdominal vein and centrifuged (1500×g, 4°C, 15min); plasma was collected and used for the determination of various biochemical parameters.

Results: The results of the study suggested that CST significantly improved the lung functions of the rats in a dose-dependent manner. It also causes a reduction of white blood cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in BALF of rats. The plasma level of leptin and C-reactive protein together with pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were also significantly restored to near to normal in CST-treated group. In Western blot analysis, CST causes significant inhibition of the NF-ĸB and iNOS pathway.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the CST protects lungs against COPD via improving lung functions and inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Keywords: COPD; Casticin; NF-ĸB; inflammation; oxidative stress; smoke.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Male
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury / drug therapy*
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury / metabolism
  • Smoking / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • NF-kappa B
  • casticin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the NSFC (grant number: 81770028); the Key Laboratory of Shenzhen Respiratory Disease (grant number: ZDSYS201504301616234) and the Clinical research of Shenzhen Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission (grant number: SZLY2017024). This work also was supported by special funding for high-level disciplines from the Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases.