Effect of Thymus migricus Extract Supplementation on Endurance Exercise Performance, Liver and Oxidative Enzymes

Paper ID : 1040-SSRC-13TH (R1)

Authors

MAHDI MAHDI Faramoushi * دانشکده چند رسانه ای

Abstract

In untrained or recreationally trained participants, certain muscular adaptations involving elevated citrate synthase activity, mitochondrial density, capillary-to-fiber ratio, and fiber cross-sectional area are evoked which are regarded as being involved in the improved endurance performance The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 8-week thyme extract supplementation on the cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase activity in rat soleus and ALT, AST in muscle and their liver enzymes together with the effects on endurance exercise in trained rats. A total of 20 rats were divided equally into two groups. They received standard rat chow with either water ad libitum (non-supplemented group: n = 10) or thyme hydro-alcoholic extract dissolved in distilled water to the desired concentration (400 mg/kg/day) (supplemented group: n=10). Twenty-four hours after the end of the endurance capacity test, the rats were deeply anesthetized and decapitated. The activities of cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase in the soleus tissue were determined spectrophotometrically. Findings showed that there was no significant difference in the liver enzymes between the two groups, thyme supplementation significantly down-regulated the activity of citrate synthase (35%) and cytochrome c oxidase (24%) within the soleus muscle compared to the non-supplemented group. The results of the independent sample t test revealed that the exhaustive running time of rats in the thyme extract supplemented group was significantly prolonged compared with the non-supplemented group. Although thyme extract supplementation decreased the activity of mitochondrial oxidative enzymes, it could elevate the exercise tolerance. Also the consumption of thyme does not lead to an increase in the liver enzymes during acute exercise. It seems that it prevents or delays the fatigue during performance.

Keywords

Thyme, Endurance exercise, Mitochondrial enzyme activity, Liver Enzymes, Supplementation.

Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation)