A Review of the Antioxidant Effects of Medicinal Plants in Athletes

Despite of many studies indicated that regular exercise training is associated with numerous health benefits for population, but determined that strenuous exercise and physical activities, through increased production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species caused oxidative stress damage and therefore decreased exercise performance in athletes. Nevertheless it has been reported that the nutritional intervention and antioxidant supplements may protect against exercise- induced oxidative stress. However because of side effects of synthetic drugs, the use of herbal medicines and natural antioxidant maybe very effective and therefore it can be recommended the supplementation of herbals to coaches and athletes. Hence in the present review, in addition to study of mechanisms of the exercise-induced oxidative stress, it has provided the effects of some antioxidant herbal supplements in sports.