The Effect of Interval Training and Urtica Dioica Hydroalcoholic Extract on some Growth and Immune Factors in C57 Rats with Melanoma Cancer

Exercise interventions combined with medicinal plants are effective in preventing or reducing cancer symptoms and side effects caused by cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of interval training and consumption of Urtica dioica hydroalcoholic extract on selecteted factors of immune and growth in C57BL/6 rats with melanoma cancer.

In this experimental study, 20 C57BL/6 rats were randomly divided into four groups include control (cancer), Urtica dioica (cancer), and Urtica dioica - interval training (cancer). Experimental groups received nettle extract of 30 mg daily per kilogram of body weight. The interval exercise program included running on a treadmill 60 minutes at a speed of 28 meters per minute, five days a week for six weeks. Levels of nucleotide exchange factor (Apg-2), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed death protein-1 (PD-1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) of rats was measured by Real Time PCR method. The data were analyzed and analyzed by One -way variance analysis and the Toky's test at the P<0.05.

interval training led to significant increase in gene expression of APG2, CTLA4 and decrease in IGFBP2 (P<0.001). Urtica dioica extract led to significant decrease in IGFBP2 (P<0.010). interval training with Urtica dioica extract led to significant increase in gene expression of APG2 and decrease in IGFBP2 compared to the Urtica dioica group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the mean of PD-1 gene expression in different groups (P=0.158).

According to the results, interval training with Urtica dioica hydroalcoholic consumption has more advantages in regulating gene expression of some growth and immune factors in melanoma cancer than interval training and Urtica dioica consumption alone.