Open Access

Inhibitory effects of amines from Citrus reticulata on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

  • Authors:
    • Xian-Mei Zhou
    • Zhen-Dong Cao
    • Na Xiao
    • Qi Shen
    • Jian-Xin Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 15, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2015.2435
  • Pages: 339-346
  • Copyright: © Zhou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal lung disease for which, thus far, there are no effective treatments. The pericarp of Citrus reticulata, as a traditional herbal drug, has been used for the clinical treatment of lung-related diseases in China for many years. In the present study, the amines from the pericarp of Citrus reticulata were isolated, and their hydrochlorides were prepared. The results of screening using cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts (hELFs) revealed that, of the amines, 4-methoxyphenethylamine hydrochloride (designated as amine hydrochloride 1) possessed the most potent inhibitory effect. Further in vivo experiments using a rat model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis demonstrated that the oral administration of amine hydrochloride 1 significantly lowered the hydroxyproline content in both serum and lung tissue, and alleviated pulmonary alveolitis and fibrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that amine hydrochloride 1 exerted its inhibitory effect against IPF through the downregulation of lung transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 protein expression. Our results demonstrated that amine hydrochloride 1 prevented the development of bleomycin‑induced lung fibrosis in rats. Thus, our data suggest that the amines from the pericarp of Citrus reticulata have therapeutic potential for use in the treatment of IPF.
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February-2016
Volume 37 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhou X, Cao Z, Xiao N, Shen Q and Li J: Inhibitory effects of amines from Citrus reticulata on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Int J Mol Med 37: 339-346, 2016
APA
Zhou, X., Cao, Z., Xiao, N., Shen, Q., & Li, J. (2016). Inhibitory effects of amines from Citrus reticulata on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 37, 339-346. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2015.2435
MLA
Zhou, X., Cao, Z., Xiao, N., Shen, Q., Li, J."Inhibitory effects of amines from Citrus reticulata on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 37.2 (2016): 339-346.
Chicago
Zhou, X., Cao, Z., Xiao, N., Shen, Q., Li, J."Inhibitory effects of amines from Citrus reticulata on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 37, no. 2 (2016): 339-346. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2015.2435