The Effect of Eight Weeks of Increasing Aerobic Training and Pumpkin Seed Supplementation on Oxidative Stress Indices of Lung Tissue in Rats Poisoned with Hydrogen Peroxide

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training and pumpkin seed supplementation on pulmonary oxidative stress indices of H2O2 poisoned rats. 

 42 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: control, poisoned, poisoning+ 1 g pumpkin, poisoning+ 2 g pumpkin, poisoning+ aerobic exercise, poisoning+ 1 g pumpkin+ exercise, poisoning+ 2 g pumpkin+ exercise. Induction of oxidative stress by intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mg/ kg of hydrogen peroxide for 3 days per week, receiving pumpkin seeds at 1 and 2 g per kg of body weight and exercise program including increasing running on a treadmill for 8 weeks (3 days Per week with a minimum speed of 8 meters per minute and a slope of 10 degrees). Specialized kits were used to measure cytochrome c, ATP, MDA and PAB indices and the data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance at a significance level of 0.05.

The results showed that H2O2 poisoning caused a significant decrease in ATP and significant increase in pulmonary cytochrome C, MDA and PAB (P <0.05). Pumpkin seed doses had no significant effect on MDA, cytochrome c and ATP concentrations (P> 0.05). On the other hand, receiving 2 g of pumpkin seeds caused a significant decrease in PAB concentration (P <0.05). Eight weeks of aerobic exercise had no significant effect on pulmonary MDA concentration (P> 0.05), but significantly increased ATP concentration and decreased cytochrome c and PAB concentrations (P <0.05). Interaction of aerobic exercise with pumpkin seed doses increased ATP and decreased concentrations of MDA, cytochrome c and PAB (P <0.05).

The single effects of pumpkin seeds seem to be dependent on tissue and dosage. Eight weeks of aerobic exercise is also a good antioxidant solution in hydrogen peroxide poisoning, depending on the factors. The combination of aerobic exercise and high doses of pumpkin seed supplement has additional effects on oxidative indices of lung tissue in rats poisoned with Hydrogen Peroxide.