<i>Cicer arietinum</i> Extract Suppresses Lung Sepsis Induced by Cecal Ligation and Puncture in Rats

Sepsis is characterized by multiple organ dysfunction, which is now accepted to be due to oxidative damage. The lung is the first organ exposed to this damage, and its injury is one of the leading causes of death. Therefore, many pharmacological strategies are employed to attenuate sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate the in silico and in vitro antibacterial activity of <i>Cicer arietinum</i> extract (CAE) against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> and the in vivo modulatory effect of CAE against sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rats. This study identified seven bioactive components in <i>Cicer arietinum</i> extract, revealing promising interactions between these components and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>-PBP2a and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>-PBP3 proteins, highlighting their potential as novel antibacterial agents. After ensuring the bactericidal ability of CAE against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, an in vivo study was performed. Twenty-four rats were divided into sham-operated rats, CLP-septic rats, CLP rats treated with CAE (500 mg/kg b.wt), and CLP rats treated with hydrocortisone (25 mg/ kg b.wt). CAE was administered orally for 3 days post-operation, and animals were euthanized on the fourth day. Another twenty-four rats were used to study survival for 5 days. This study revealed that CAE, like hydrocortisone, can rescue CLP rats from death by suppressing lung procalcitonin (PCT) and MDA and enhancing SOD, CAT, and GSH levels significantly, as compared with the CLP group. The histopathological results were parallel with the biochemical results since the CLP rats treated with CAE had lower histological/inflammatory scores in the lung like hydrocortisone. The beneficial role of CAE may result from its antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and CAE can be considered as a lung antiseptic extract. This study provides a novel treatment for sepsis-induced ALI. However, the beneficial impact of CAE needs extensive study to obtain evidence.