Mitigation of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by jiegan tea: In vitro and in vivo toxicological insights

Bleomycin (BLM), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is associated with severe pulmonary toxicity, which can lead to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The progressive nature of BLM-induced PF, coupled with the lack of effective preventive strategies, presents a major clinical challenge. Jiegan tea (JGT), a traditional herbal remedy derived from Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, has been proposed to offer protective effects against respiratory diseases. This study aims to evaluate the potential of JGT in mitigating BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In vivo experiments demonstrate that JGT significantly reduces BLM-induced lung damage by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Further mechanistic investigations reveal that JGT interacts with β-catenin, enhancing its stability, as confirmed by cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA). This stabilization of β-catenin prevents its nuclear translocation and subsequent accumulation, thereby suppressing the EMT process and mitigating fibrosis progression. These findings suggest that JGT holds promise as a natural preventive agent against BLM-induced pulmonary toxicity and fibrosis.