Effect of Bletilla striata on the Prevention of Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesions in Abrasion-Induced Rat Model

Postoperative peritoneal adhesions (PPAs) constitute a common complication of abdominal surgery with a high incidence. Bletilla striata (BS) is an important hemostatic drug used in China for nearly 2000 years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bletilla striata on postoperative intestinal adhesion in rats. PPA was induced by cecal wall abrasion, and Bletilla striata was injected to observe its effect on adhesion in rats. The adhesion and inflammation score were assessed through visual observation and histopathologic evaluation. The levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interleukin-17F (IL-17F) in abdominal cavity and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week after operation. The tissue level of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) was also determined by ELISA on the seventh day after surgery. The expressions of collagen and TNF-α were, respectively, detected by Masson trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of TGF-β1 and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected by Western blot. The result showed that Bletilla striata has obvious preventive effect on PPAs and celiac inflammation of PPAs. Bletilla striata could significantly reduce the level of IL-17F abdominal cavity and IL-6 in plasma. Masson trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining results showed that Bletilla striata also decreased the expression of TNF-α and collagen. Western blot results showed that Bletilla striata decreased the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1. Our results suggest that Bletilla striata decreased the development of abdominal adhesion in abrasion-induced model of rats and reduced the expression of the important substance which increased in PPAs. Bletilla striata can be further studied as a new and cheaper antiadhesive substance.