Madecassoside ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by downregulating collagen deposition.

This study aimed to explore the protective effects of madecassoside (Mad), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Centella asiatica herbs, on experimental pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and underlying mechanisms. PF model was established in mice by endotracheal instillation with bleomycin (5 mg/kg). Mice were orally administered with Mad (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) and prednisone (5 mg/kg) for 7 or 21 days.

Paeoniflorin, the main active constituent of Paeonia lactiflora roots, attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by suppressing the synthesis of type I collagen.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) belongs to pulmonary arthralgia, which means blood stasis in lung tissue. The roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall are usually used to relieve the symptoms of this disease by promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Paeoniflorin, the main active ingredient of P.