Total flavonoids of Selaginella tamariscina (P. Beauv.) Spring ameliorates diabetes-induced acute lung injury via activating Nrf۲/ HO-۱

Objective(s): This investigation explored the mechanism by which the total flavonoids of Selaginella tamariscina (P.Beauv.) Spring (TFST) mitigate oxidative stress through the activation of the heme oxygenase-۱ (HO-۱) signaling pathway mediated by nuclear factor erythroid ۲-related factor ۲ (Nrf۲), thereby ameliorating acute lung injury (ALI) induced by diabetes. Materials and Methods: Male mice weighing ۲۰–۲۵ grams were divided into four groups: a control group, a diabetic group, a diabetic group treated with TFST, and a diabetic group treated with TFST and ML۳۸۵. Various biological specimens were collected for analysis, including bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), blood, and tissue samples. These were subjected to a range of assessments covering hematological and BALF parameters tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-۶ [IL-۶]), biochemical markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH], Nrf۲, and HO-۱ levels), along with histopathological evaluations.Results: Pre-treatment with TFST demonstrated a significant decrease in pulmonary tissue damage, evidenced by decreased wet-to-dry (W/D) lung ratios (P<۰.۰۰۱), reduced lung injury scores (P<۰.۰۰۰۱), and lower levels of TNF-α, IL-۶ (P<۰.۰۰۰۱), as well as oxidative stress markers like MDA (P<۰.۰۵). Moreover, there was an elevation in the activity of anti-oxidative enzymes, specifically SOD and GSH (P<۰.۰۵), coupled with an enhanced expression of Nrf۲ and HO-۱ in the diabetic group (P<۰.۰۱). Conclusion: The study findings demonstrate that TFST can suppress oxidative stress by modulating the Nrf۲ pathway and up-regulating HO-۱ activity, thereby ameliorating diabetes-induced acute lung injury.

Keywords:

Acute lung injury , Diabetes Mellitus , HO-۱ , Nrf۲ , Total flavonoids of - Selaginella tamariscina (P.Beauv.) , Spring