Total glycosides of Yupingfeng protects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats associated with reduced high mobility group box 1 activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Background Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal inflammatory disease with limited effective strategies. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal origin of myofibroblasts that secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) in the development of PF. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), one of the mediators of inflammation, has been proved abnormal activation in the pathogenesis of PF.