The effect of pumpkin seed and endurance training on oxidative stress factors and DNA damage

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pumpkin seed and endurance training on oxidative stress factors and DNA damage of slow-twitch muscle tissue in male rats poisoned with hydrogen peroxide.

A total of 48 adult male rats weighing 220±20 g at eight weeks were administered in accordance with stress interventions (hydrogen peroxide), pumpkin seed and endurance training. To induce oxidative stress, intraperitoneal injection of H2O2 at a dose of 2 mmol/kg was performed three times a week. Inoculation of pumpkin seeds was performed at 0.5 μg per day with intraperitoneal injection at a concentration of 300000 U/ml. The training groups performed daily aerobic exercise on a treadmill for 8 weeks, the endurance training protocol started at a speed of 8 m/min and a slope of 10 degrees for 30 minutes on the treadmill in the first week and gradually at a speed of 20 m/min at an angle of ten. The degree reached 60 minutes in the eighth week. Data were analyzed using repeated- measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc test at the level of α = 0.05.

The results of the present study showed that training and receiving pumpkin seeds separately has a significant effect on ATP, ADP, ATP / ADP ratio, MDA and PAB of horseshoe muscle (P= 0.001); But the interaction between training and pumpkin seeds did not have a significant effect only on MDA of soleus muscle (P = 0.025) but had a significant effect on other variables (P = 0.001).

Taking pumpkin seed supplement along with endurance training can reduce oxidative stress in the body.