Abstract
BackgroundAthletes have a large extent of oxidant agent production. In the current study, we aimed to determine the influence of thyme extract on the endurance exercise performance, mitochondrial biogenesis, and antioxidant status in rats.MethodsTwenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups receiving either normal drinking water (non-supplemented group, n = 10) or thyme extract, 400 mg/kg, (supplemented group, n = 10). Rats in both groups were subjected to endurance treadmill training (27 m/min, 10% grade, 60 min, and 5 days/week for 8 weeks). Finally, to determine the endurance capacity, time to exhaustion treadmill running at 36 m/min speed was assessed. At the end of the endurance capacity test, serum and soleus muscle samples were collected and their superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were measured. Protein expression of PGC-1α, as a marker of mitochondrial biogenesis, was also determined in the soleus muscle tissue by immunoblotting assay.ResultsFindings revealed that the exhaustive running time in the treatment group was significantly (p < 0.05) prolonged. Both serum and soleus muscle MDA levels, as an index of lipid peroxidation, had a threefold increase in the thyme extract supplemented group (t18 = 8.11, p < 0.01; t18 = 4.98, p < 0.01 respectively). The activities of SOD and GPx of the soleus muscle were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the non-supplemented group, while there was no significant difference in serum SOD, GPx activities, and total antioxidant capacity between groups. Furthermore, thyme supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) decreased PGC-1α expression.ConclusionsThyme extract supplementation increased endurance exercise tolerance in intact animals, although decrease of oxidative stress and regulation of the PGC-1α protein expression are not considered as underlying molecular mechanisms.
Highlights
Athletes have a large extent of oxidant agent production
The post weight of the supplemented group did not differ by non-supplemented group (p = 0.12) clearly indicated that the thyme extract supplementation did not effect on weight gain or loss
Effect of thyme supplementation on serum and soleus muscle oxidative stress As shown in Table 2, MDA levels were significantly higher for the treatment group compared to those of the non-treated group both in serum and soleus muscle homogenate (t18 = 8.11, p < 0.01; t18 = 4.98, p < 0.01 respectively), which showed elevated lipid peroxidation in the thyme supplemented group
Summary
Athletes have a large extent of oxidant agent production. In the current study, we aimed to determine the influence of thyme extract on the endurance exercise performance, mitochondrial biogenesis, and antioxidant status in rats. Similar reductions in post-exercise measures of oxidative stress (F-isoprostanes) and muscle damage (creatine kinase, CK) have been discovered in 12 collegiate soccer players who ingested a mixture of antioxidant substances (Resurgex® and Resurgex Plus®) for a 3-week period compared to a placebo (isocaloric equivalent) [14]. These findings defend the hypothesis that antioxidant supplementation may help athletes to cope better with intensified training periods and prevent excessive
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