Exhaustive Exercise-induced Oxidative Stress Research Articles

Effects of concurrent eight-week aerobic trainings and Rosa canina L. fruit hydroalcoholic extract on liver enzymes and malondialdehyde of liver in male rats following an acute aerobic exercise until exhaustion

Background: Rosa canina L. has high levels of carotenoids, flavonoids and, vitamin C antioxidant compounds that can withstand the destructive effects of exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress. The present study aims to investigate the effects of concurrent eight-week aerobic training and Rosa canina L. fruit hydroalcoholic extract on some liver enzymes and malondialdehyde of liver in male rats following an acute aerobic exercise until exhaustion. Methods: The present research was an experimental study. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (N=10): placebo (without exercise + distilled water 2 ml supplement), supplement (without exercise + Rosa canina L extract, 100 mg/kg), exercise (8 weeks exercise + distilled water 2 ml), combined (8 weeks exercise + Rosa canina L extract, 100 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, half of the rats were killed immediately before exhaustive exercise; while the other half were killed immediately after performing an acute exhaustive exercise on the treadmill. Serum enzymes AST, ALT, and hepatic malondialdehyde levels were measured by ELISA and thiobarbituric acid methods, respectively. Results: The results show that in all groups except the combined group serum AST, ALT, and malondialdehyde of the liver were significantly increased following an acute exhaustive exercise compared to the prior exhaustive exercise (P<0.05). Conclusion: The use of Rosa canina L Fruit hydroalcoholic extract with aerobic exercise prevented the increase of hepatic malondialdehyde and serum enzymes AST, ALT levels following an acute exhausting exercise.

Total Dietary Antioxidant Intake Including Polyphenol Content: Is it Capable to Fight against Increased Oxidants within the Body of Ultra-Endurance Athletes?

The role of dietary antioxidants on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress has been well investigated. However, the contribution of total dietary antioxidant capacity on exogenous antioxidant defense and exercise performance has commonly been disregarded. The aims of the present investigation were to examine (i) the effects of dietary total antioxidant intake on body antioxidant mechanisms, and (ii) an exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative damage in ultra-endurance athletes. The study included 24 ultra-marathon runners and long-distance triathletes (12 male and 12 female) who underwent an acute exhaustive exercise test (a cycle ergometer (45 min at 65% VO2max) immediately followed by a treadmill test (75% VO2max to exhaustion). Oxidative stress-related biomarkers (8-isoprostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso PGF2a), total oxidant status (TOS, total antioxidant status (TAS)) in plasma were collected before and after exercise. Oxidative stress index was calculated to assess the aspect of redox balance. Blood lactate concentrations and heart rate were measured at the 3rd and 6th min after exercise. Dietary antioxidant intake was calculated using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. Dietary total antioxidant intake of the subjects was negatively correlated with pre-exercise TOS concentrations (rs = −0.641 in male, and rs = −0.741 in females) and post- vs. pre- (∆) 8-iso PGF2a levels (rs = −0.702 in male; p = 0.016, and rs = −0.682 in females; p = 0.024), and positively correlated with ∆ TAS concentrations (rs = 0.893 in males; p = 0.001, and rs = 0.769 in females; p = 0.002) and post- exercise lactate concentrations (rs = 0.795 for males; p = 0.006, and rs = 0.642 for females; p = 0.024). A positive meaningful (p = 0.013) interaction was observed between time at exhaustion and dietary antioxidant intake (rs = 0.692) in males, but not in females. In conclusion, the determination of total dietary antioxidant intake in ultra-endurance athletes may be crucial for gaining a better perspective on body antioxidant defense against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress. However, the effects of dietary antioxidant on exercise performance and recovery rate needs further investigation.

The Antioxidant Role of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Extract Against Exhaustive Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Young Athletes

The Antioxidant Role of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Extract Against Exhaustive Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Young Athletes

Trimetazidine Attenuates Exhaustive Exercise-Induced Myocardial Injury in Rats via Regulation of the Nrf2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Exhausted exercise has been reported to cause the damage of myocardial structure and function in terms of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism disturbance. Trimetazidine (TMZ), as an anti-ischemic agent, has been approved to be effective in promoting myocardial energy metabolism, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation. However, few studies examined the effects of TMZ on myocardial injury induced by exhausted exercise. To investigate whether TMZ could ameliorate the exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury and explore the underlying mechanisms, here the rat model of exhaustive exercise was induced by prolonged swimming exercise and TMZ was administrated to rats before exhaustive exercise. According to the results, we demonstrated that exhaustive exercise led to cardiomyocyte damage in rats as evidenced by elevations in cTnI and NT-proBNP levels, and decrease in CX43 expression, which was attenuated by TMZ treatment. Moreover, the administration of TMZ was found to restrain exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress damage by increasing GSH level, SOD and GSH-Px activities, and decreasing MDA level. Additionally, TMZ ameliorated myocardial injury by inhibiting apoptosis via reducing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and down-regulating cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and cytochrome c levels in the myocardium of rats. Furthermore, we found that TMZ suppressed oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and inactivation of NF-κB signaling pathways. Therefore, our study suggested that TMZ provided cardioprotection in rats after exhaustive exercise, indicating TMZ might served as a potential therapeutic drug for exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury.

GW29-e0721 The effect of exercise preconditioning on Nrf2/Keap1 signal pathway in exhausted rats

To investigate whether the exercise preconditioning (EP) can reduce myocardial exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress by activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats. The 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=15): The control group (C), the exhaustion (EE) group, the

Polysaccharides from Polygonatum odoratum strengthen antioxidant defense system and attenuate lipid peroxidation against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in mice

Purpose: To investigate the potential effects of polysaccharides isolated from Polygonatum odoratum (PPO) on oxidative stress induced by forced swimming exercise in mice.Methods: Mice were randomly divided into four groups: one control group and three PPO groups. The mice in the control group were administered with only distilled water, whereas the mice in the PPO groups were treated with different doses (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg) of PPO, respectively. The treatments were performed by oral gavage once daily for 28 days, and were followed by forced swimming test to determine exhaustive swimming. Furthermore, various biochemical parameters, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed.Results: PPO significantly (p < 0.05) prolonged exhaustive swimming time. It also significantly (p < 0.05) lowered LDH and CK levels in serum, as well as MDA levels in serum, liver and muscle, and also significantly (p < 0.05) improved SOD, GPx and CAT levels in serum, liver, and muscle.Conclusion: PPO protects against oxidative stress induced by forced swimming exercise by strengthening antioxidant defense system and reducing lipid peroxidation. PPO may be suitable as a supplement for athletes and other physically active individuals for the improvement of exercise endurance and alleviation of fatigue.Keywords: Polygonatum odoratum, Polysaccharides, Forced swimming test, Oxidative stress, Biochemical parameters

Effects of Laminaria japonica polysaccharides on exercise endurance and oxidative stress in forced swimming mouse model.

BackgroundPolysaccharides are the major active ingredients responsible for the bioactivities of Laminaria japonica. However, the effects of L. japonica polysaccharides (LJP) on exercise endurance and oxidative stress have never been investigated. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of LJP on exercise endurance and oxidative stress in a forced swimming mouse model. The animals were divided into four groups, namely the control (C), LJP-75, LJP-150, and LJP-300 groups, which received physiological saline and 75, 150, and 300 mg kg−1 LJP, respectively, by gavage once a day for 28 days. This was followed by a forced swimming test and measurements of various biochemical parameters.ResultsLJP increased swimming time to exhaustion, the liver and muscle glycogen content, and levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in the serum, liver, and muscle, which were accompanied by corresponding decreases in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the same tissues. Furthermore, decreases in blood lactic acid and serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were observed.ConclusionLJP enhanced exercise endurance and protected mice against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Extraction of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides using ultrasound-assisted way and its bioactivity

In the present article, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis were investigated. The aim of the study is to examine the extraction parameters such as ultrasound power (140–180W), the ratio of liquid to solid (5–7), extraction time (40–50min) and extraction temperature (80–100°C) and to obtain the best possible combinations of these parameters through response surface methodology (RSM). Based on contour plots and variance analysis, optimum operational conditions for maximizing polysaccharides yield were found to be 180w, 7, 45min and 90°C. Under the optimum operating conditions determined, 6.96% polysaccharides were achieved. In addition, the results showed that A. sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) could increase antioxidant enzymes activities and decrease the MDA levels in the skeletal muscle of exhaustive exercise rats. This study provides strong evidence that A. sinensis polysaccharides supplementation possessed protective effects against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Protective Role of Polysaccharides from <i>Gynostemma pentaphyllum </i>Makino Supplementation against Exhaustive Swimming Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Liver and Skeletal Muscle of Mice

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective role of polysaccharide fromGynostemma pentaphyllumMakino (PGP) supplementation against exhaustive swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress. A total of 48 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose PGP supplementation groups. The control group received distilled water and the supplementation groups received different doses of PGP (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) by gavage once a day for 28 consecutive days. After 28 days, the mice performed an exhaustive swimming exercise, and some biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured. The results showed that PGP supplementation could increase SOD, GPx and CAT contents, as well as decrease MDA contents in the liver and skeletal muscle of mice, which suggests that PGP supplementation has a protective role against exhaustive swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis mycelium ameliorate exhaustive swimming exercise-induced oxidative stress

Context. Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (Clavicipitaceae) is a famous medicinal fungus (mushroom) in Chinese herbal medicine. Polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis (CSP) have been identified as active ingredients responsible for its biological activities. Although many pharmacological actions of CSP have received a great deal of attention, research in this area continues.Objective: The current study was designed to investigate the effects of CSP on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.Materials and methods: The mice were divided into four groups: control (C), low-dose CSP treated (LC), intermediate-dose CSP treated (IC) and high-dose CSP treated (HC). The treated groups received CSP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, ig), while the control group received drinking water for 28 days, followed by being forced to undergo exhaustive swimming exercise, and some biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured using detection kits according to the manufacturers’ instructions.Results: Compared with the C group, exhaustive swimming time was significantly prolonged in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); SOD activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); GPx activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05); CAT activities in serum, liver and muscle were significantly higher in the HC groups (p < 0.05); MDA and 8-OHdG levels in serum, liver and muscle were significantly lower in the LC, IC and HC groups (p < 0.05).Discussion and conclusion: The results obtained herein indicate that CSP could ameliorate exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Ixora parviflora Extract against Exhaustive Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mice

Ixora parviflora, a species of the Rubiaceae, is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, and has been traditionally used as a folk medicine. An I. parviflora extract (IPE) has great antioxidant activity in vitro, including a scavenging effect on superoxide radicals, reducing power, and ferrous ion-chelating ability. However, whether IPE is efficacious against oxidative damage in vivo is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the protective effects of IPE treatment on hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses after exhaustive exercise in mice. Fifty male C57BL/6 mice (6 week old) were randomly divided into five groups and designated a sedentary control with vehicle (C), and exhaustive exercise with vehicle (IPE0), low dosage (IPE10), medium dosage (IPE50) and high dosage (IPE100) of IPE at 0, 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. After a single bout of exhaustive swimming exercise challenge, levels of blood ammonia and creatine kinase (CK), and hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) protein expression, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), and gp91phox, p22phox, and p47phox subunits of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase expressions in the IPE0 group were significantly affected compared to those of the C group, but they were all significantly inhibited by the IPE treatments. Results of the present in vivo study in mice indicate that I. parviflora extract possesses antioxidative and hepatoprotective potential following exhaustive exercise.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides supplementation attenuates exercise-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscle of mice

The present study was designed to determine the effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GL-PS) on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscle tissues of mice. The mice were divided into four groups (three GL-PS administered groups and the control group). The control group was administered with distilled water and GL-PS administered groups were administered with GL-PS (50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight per day). After 28days, the mice performed an exhaustive swimming exercise, along with the determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the skeletal muscle of mice. The results showed that GL-PS could increase antioxidant enzymes activities and decrease the MDA levels in the skeletal muscle of mice. This study provides strong evidence that GL-PS supplementation possessed protective effects against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Effects of salidroside on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in rats

Intense exercise increases oxygen consumption and may produce an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, inducing oxidative stress as a result of increased ROS production. Exogenous antioxidants may prevent oxidative damages since they are able to detoxify certain peroxides by scavenging the ROS produced during exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of salidroside on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in rats. A total of 40 animals were randomly divided into four groups of ten rats each: control (C), low-dose salidroside‑treated (LT), middle-dose salidroside-treated (MT) and high-dose salidroside-treated (HT) groups. The rats in the treated groups received salidroside (25, 50 and 100mg/kg, respectively) intragastrically (ig) and the rats in the control group received drinking water ig for 4weeks. After 4 weeks, the rats performed an exhaustive swimming exercise and exhaustive swimming times were recorded. The malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glycogen levels in the liver tissues of the rats were measured. The data revealed that salidroside was able to elevate the exercise tolerance and increase the liver glycogen levels of the rats following exhaustive exercise. Salidroside was also able to reduce MDA levels and enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GSH-Px) in the liver tissues of the rats. The results from this study indicate that salidroside is effective in the prevention of oxidative stress following exhaustive exercise.

Protective effect of laminarin polysaccharides on oxidative stress caused by exhaustive exercise

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laminarin polysaccharides (LP) on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in rats. A total of thirty-two rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: Sedentary control group (C), exhaustive exercise group (E), LP treatment group (L) and exercise group subjected to exhaustive exercise and LP treatment (EL). Rats in the L and EL group received supplemental LP diet (300 mg/kg body weight) for 30 consecutive days, and rats in C and E groups received the same volume of 0.9% NaCl for the same days as rats in the L and EL group. Rats in the E and EL group underwent 30 day exhaustive exercise experiments on a treadmill. Blood and skeletal muscle were collected. The biochemical markers in serum were determined and the level of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in muscle were measured. Exhaustive exercise caused elevations of biochemical markers and lipid peroxidation (P<0.05) and decreases of antioxidants (P<0.05). The presence of LP with exhaustive exercise significantly decreases the blood biochemical markers and lipid peroxidation (P<0.05) and significantly increased the levels of the antioxidants in muscle (P<0.05). Our results indicate that LP could be a potent protective agent against exhaustive exercise-induced biochemical alteration and oxidative stress in rats. Key words: Antioxidant activity, polysaccharides, animal models, exercise.

Oral Rg1 supplementation strengthens antioxidant defense system against exercise-induced oxidative stress in rat skeletal muscles

BackgroundPrevious studies reported divergent results on nutraceutical actions and free radical scavenging capability of ginseng extracts. Variations in ginsenoside profile of ginseng due to different soil and cultivating season may contribute to the inconsistency. To circumvent this drawback, we assessed the effect of major ginsenoside-Rg1 (Rg1) on skeletal muscle antioxidant defense system against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.MethodsForty weight-matched rats were evenly divided into control (N = 20) and Rg1 (N = 20) groups. Rg1 was orally administered at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight per day for 10-week. After this long-term Rg1 administration, ten rats from each group performed an exhaustive swimming, and remaining rats considered as non-exercise control. Tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were surgically collected immediately after exercise along with non-exercise rats.ResultsExhaustive exercise significantly (p<0.05) increased the lipid peroxidation of control group, as evidenced by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The increased oxidative stress after exercise was also confirmed by decreased reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG ratio) in control rats. However, these changes were completely eliminated in Rg1 group. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were significantly (p<0.05) increased by Rg1 in non-exercise rats, while no significant change after exercise. Nevertheless, glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were significantly increased after exercise in Rg1 group.ConclusionsThis study provide compelling evidences that Rg1 supplementation can strengthen antioxidant defense system in skeletal muscle and completely attenuate the membrane lipid peroxidation induced by exhaustive exercise. Our findings suggest that Rg1 can use as a nutraceutical supplement to buffer the exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Effects of CoQ10 supplementation and swimming training on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in rat heart

This study examined the combined effects of swimming training and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in rat heart. The study was carried out with 4-month-old young adult male Wistar rats. Sixty four rats were divided mainly into two groups: trained and control. Each group was further divided into four subgroups: rest, exhausted, rest with CoQ10, exhausted with CoQ10. The training program consisted of swimming one hour each day, five days a week, for six weeks. At the end of sixth week, rats in exhausted exercise group were forced to swim until exhaustion and then they were immediately sacrificed, while rats in rest group were sacrificed at rest. Training alone or in combination with CoQ10 supplementation reduced to increasing MDA levels due to exhaustive exercise in rat heart (p<0.05). The trained-rest with CoQ10 group showed lower 8-OHdG levels than the control-rest with CoQ10 group. Exhaustive exercise effect was significant on SOD activity. Exhaustive exercise increased GSH levels in control groups while decreased GSH levels in training groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that CoQ10 supplementation combined with training may inhibit lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in the heart tissue. Also, it can be said that SOD activity and GSH levels were not influenced by CoQ10 supplementation (Fig. 4, Tab. 1, Ref. 69).

Effects of Gender, Endurance Training and Acute Exhaustive Exercise on Oxidative Stress in the Heart and Skeletal Muscle of the Rat

Effects of gender differences and endurance training on exhaustive exercise induced-oxidative stress have been a question that has not been clarified in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sex, acute exhaustive exercise and chronic aerobic exercise training on oxidative stress in the heart and the skeletal muscle. The study was carried out with 12 week-old male (n = 24) and female (n = 24) young adult Wistar rats. They were randomly divided into four groups: untrained, trained, untrained exhausted and trained exhausted. The rats in the trained group swam for 60 min/day, five days per week for eight weeks. Thereafter, one-half of the trained and one-half of the untrained rats were randomly selected into the trained and untrained exhaustive exercise groups, respectively. They were killed immediately after one last exhaustive swimming exercise. In the heart, endurance training decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the female rats at rest, but did not change in the male rats in the heart; MDA levels were also increased in female rats at rest in the gastrocnemius tissues. [corrected]. In the trained female rats, exhaustive exercise decreased MDA levels in the heart and gastrocnemius tissues. The nitric oxide (NO) levels in the heart in the untrained female rats were higher than in the male rats after exhaustive exercise. Training decreased the NO levels in both sexes in the gastrocnemius tissue at rest. In the heart, the untrained female rats had higher total glutathione (GSH) levels than in the male rats at rest. Also, exhaustive exercise decreased the GSH levels in the trained female rats. In the gastrocnemius, untrained female rats showed higher GSH levels than in the male after exhaustive exercise. The superoxide dismutase activities in the gastrocnemius were similar between the female and male rats. The results suggested that gender was a major determinant of changes in MDA, NO and GSH levels in the heart and gastrocnemius tissues after the exhaustive exercise or endurance training. Also, the responses to oxidative stress induced by acute exercise or training in the heart and gastrocnemius muscle tissues are different.

Ginsenoside-Rg1 Protects the Liver against Exhaustive Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

Despite regular exercise benefits, acute exhaustive exercise elicits oxidative damage in liver. The present study determined the hepatoprotective properties of ginsenoside-Rg1 against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in rats. Forty rats were assigned into vehicle and ginsenoside-Rg1 groups (0.1 mg/kg bodyweight). After 10-week treatment, ten rats from each group performed exhaustive swimming. Estimated oxidative damage markers, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) (67%) and protein carbonyls (56%), were significantly (P < 0.01) elevated after exhaustive exercise but alleviated in ginsenoside-Rg1 pretreated rats. Furthermore, exhaustive exercise drastically decreased glutathione (GSH) content (∼79%) with concurrent decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. However, these changes were attenuated in Rg1 group. Additionally, increased xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and nitric oxide (NO) levels after exercise were also inhibited by Rg1 pretreatment. For the first time, our findings provide strong evidence that ginsenoside-Rg1 can protect the liver against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative damage.

Protective role of l-carnitine supplementation against exhaustive exercise induced oxidative stress in rats

The objective of this study was to investigate temperature dependent effects of oral l-carnitine supplementation on exhaustive exercise induced oxidative damage in rats. 42 male Spraque Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven experimental groups. These groups were formed as three non-carnitine exercise groups, three carnitine-exercise groups and a sedentary group. l-carnitine was given intraperitoneally to the carnitine-exercise groups 1 h before the exercise in 100 mg/kg. Blood was collected to measure paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol concentrations. These biomarkers were measured in venous blood samples collected before and after the rats swam in pools at different water temperatures (18 °C, 28 °C and 38 °C). In the non-carnitine group, exercise caused a significant decrease in PON1 activity and a significant elevation in MDA concentration at 28 °C compared to the sedentary group. No significant alterations were evidenced in LDL and cholesterol concentrations upon exercise. The decrease in PON1 activity became higher with increasing temperature whereas the elevation in MDA levels increased at 18 °C. In the l-carnitine supplementation group, recovery in PON1 activity was observed significant at 28 °C and very significant at 38 °C. MDA concentration was almost the same with that of the non-carnitine group at 18 and 38 °C, but it significantly decreased at 28 °C. Considering the recovery in PON1 and MDA levels at 28 °C, which is the temperature of the sedentary group; our results suggest that l-carnitine supplementation has a protective role on exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress. Findings of this study also demonstrate influences of thermal stress on these parameters during exhaustive exercise.

Effect of Dammarane Oligo-Sapogenins on Skeletal Muscle Antioxidant Status after Exhaustive Exercise in Rats

PURPOSE: Pharmacological and therapeutic actions of ginseng extracts have been widely studied in different tissues with divergent results. This study investigates the dose response of dammarane oligo-sapogenins (DS) pretreatment against exhaustive swimming-induced oxidative stress in the muscle of rats. METHODS: 80 rats were equally divided into four groups: placebo (saline), DS-20 (20 mg/kg b.w.), DS-60 (60 mg/kg b.w.) and DS-120 (120 mg/kg b.w.). DS was orally administered to respective groups for 10 weeks, and ten rats from each group performed exhaustive swimming exercise. RESULTS: We found significantly (p<0.05) increased muscle malondialdehyde (MDA) levels after exercise in placebo group, but this elevated lipid peroxidation was attenuated in DS-20 group. However, increased muscle MDA levels were found in DS-60 and DS-120 groups compared to placebo non-exercised rats. The ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) was decreased after exercise, while, this was not observed in DS treated groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was not significantly altered by exercise and also by DS treatment. Catalase activity in DS-20 non-exercise rats was significantly higher than placebo group. Higher glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were observed with DS-60 and DS-120 treatments compared to placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study demonstrates that DS can attenuate exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative damage in skeletal muscle of rats. This data suggests that dammarane oligo-sapogenins may be used as ergogenic aid to recover from exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in athletes.