Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Tribulus Terrestris Extract on Some Indicators of Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Lung Tissue of Male Rats Poisoned with Hydrogen Peroxide

Oxidative stress and apoptosis due to hydrogen peroxide poisoning have a major effect on the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of the lung. This study aims to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise and Tribulus terrestris extract on some indicators of oxidative stress and lung tissue apoptosis in poisoned male Wistar rats. 

In this experimental study, 49 male rats aged 10-12 weeks were randomly divided into seven groups: Control, Poisoned, Poisoning+ Exercise, Poisoning+ Supplementation 1 (Tribulus terrestris 5 mg/kg), Poisoning+ Supplementation 2 (Tribulus terrestris 10 mg/kg), Poisoning+ Exercise + Supplementation 1, Poisoning+ Exercise+ Supplementation 2. The aerobic exercise program consisted of eight weeks (5 days a week) of running on a treadmill at a speed of 20 meters per minute for 60 minutes per session. Alcoholic extract of Tribulus terrestris at two doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg was administered to the target animals by gavage for eight weeks. Serum levels of oxidative stress markers were measured with special kits, and the expression of apoptotic markers of lung tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. The study hypotheses were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and Least Significant Difference post hoc test, considering a significance level of P<0.05.

Eight weeks of aerobic exercise significantly increased Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) (F=19.238, P=0.002, ƞ2=0.468) and significantly reduced Cytochrome C concentration (F=68.970, P=0.001, ƞ2=0.697) and Prooxidants-Antioxidant balance (PAB) (F=12.025, P=0.001, ƞ2=0.464), while had no significant effect on malondialdehyde (MDA) (F=1.067, P=0.169, ƞ2=0.044). Both doses of Tribulus terrestris extract significantly reduced PAB (F=10.118, P=0.001, ƞ2=0.403) while its 10 mg/kg dose increased ATP (F=35.040, P=0.001, ƞ2=0.701) and reduced cytochrome C (F=13.730, P=0.004, ƞ2=0.417) and MDA (F=5.824, P=0.002, ƞ2=0.372) concentrations. After receiving 5 and 10 mg/kg doses of Tribulus terrestris extract and eight weeks of aerobic exercise, The expression of Bax protein (F=54.247, P=0.001, ƞ2=0.804; F=51.201, P=0.002, ƞ2=0.754) and Caspase 3 (F= 49.118, P=0.003, ƞ2=0.504; F=49.001, P=0.004, ƞ2=0.498) were significantly reduced while the BCl-2 expression (F=63.014, P=0.001, ƞ2=0.815; F=50.112, P=0.003, ƞ2=0.706) significantly increased. The most changes in the study markers were observed when aerobic exercise was combined with 10 mg/kg of Tribulus terrestris extract supplementation. 

It seems that 8 weeks of aerobic exercise can reduce the effects of oxidative stress and apoptosis caused by hydrogen peroxide poisoning. However, the effects of Tribulus terrestris extract may be dose-dependent in some cases. Although the combination of aerobic exercise with Tribulus terrestris extract supplementation has better results in controlling oxidative stress enzymes and apoptotic factors, for better results, longer training duration and higher doses of extract are recommended.