Quercetin Improves Pulmonary Function and Prevents Emphysema Caused by Exposure to Cigarette Smoke in Male Mice

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and cigarette smoke is a key factor in the development of COPD. Thus, the development of effective therapies to prevent the advancement of COPD has become increasingly essential. We hypothesized that quercetin protects lungs in mice exposed to long-term cigarette smoke. Thirty-five C57BL/6 mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (12 cigarettes per day) for 60 days and pretreated with 10 mg/kg/day of quercetin via orogastric gavage. After the experimental protocol, the animals were euthanized and samples were collected for histopathological, antioxidant defense, oxidative stress and inflammatory analysis. The animals exposed to cigarette smoke showed an increase in respiratory rate and hematological parameters, cell influx into the airways, oxidative damage and inflammatory mediators, besides presenting with alterations in the pulmonary histoarchitecture. The animals receiving 10 mg/kg/day of quercetin that were exposed to cigarette smoke presented a reduction in cellular influx, less oxidative damage, reduction in cytokine levels, improvement in the histological pattern and improvement in pulmonary emphysema compared to the group that was only exposed to cigarette smoke. These results suggest that quercetin may be an agent in preventing pulmonary emphysema induced by cigarette smoke.

Acute Outcomes of Cigarette Smoke and Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Inhalation in a Murine Model

“…After 24 h from the last exposure, the mice were sedated using a mixture of ketamine (100 mg/kg) and xylazine (20 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally. The procedures for collecting ventilatory parameters were performed in regard to the methodology demonstrated by Araújo et al [ 6 , 27 ].…”

“…Relative cell count was performed under an optical microscope with immersion oil. The total and differential cell counts were performed by two trained researchers [ 27 , 29 ].…”

Quercetin ameliorates acute lung injury in a rat model of hepatopulmonary syndrome

“…However, this protective mechanism of quercetin is still doubtful in the lung tissue. Recently Araújo et al [ 14 ] suggested that quercetin protected alveolar structure and halted inflammation and oxidative stress in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke.…”

Spatial Association of Environmental and Dietary Factors with COPD Deaths

“…Exposure to cigarette smoke is a known risk factor, 5,6 and treatments were developed to alleviate this negative effect. 7,8 Alcohol consumption is another known risk factor for COPD 9 as well as aging. 10 In this study, we aimed to explore the association of air-quality trajectories of six air-quality markers, fruit and vegetable consumption and drinking water source trajectories with COPD death rate using spatiotemporal data for Turkey.…”

“…Exposure to cigarette smoke is a known risk factor, 5 , 6 and treatments were developed to alleviate this negative effect. 7 , 8 Alcohol consumption is another known risk factor for COPD 9 as well as aging. 10 …”