The anti-fatigue effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Pistacia vera seeds (pistachios) on male Wistar rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

2 Pathology Department, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

3 Department of biology, Faculty of Basic, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

4 Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran Physiology and Pharmacology Department, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress and free radicals play a crucial role in muscle fatigue. Pistacia vera (P. vera) contains many
antioxidant substances such as coenzyme Q-10, vitamin E and beta-carotene. The current study has been designed to evaluate
the effects of P. vera seeds (pistachios) on skeletal muscle fatigue in male Wistar rats.
Materials and methods: 50 Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, including the normal, vehicle and
treated groups of pistachio extracts (10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg). Muscle fatigue was induced by treadmills. Animals would run
at the speed of 20 m/min on a treadmill until they showed fatigue signs. This protocol was repeated for 10 days. The hydroalcoholic extracts of pistachios were gavaged 30 minutes before the induction of muscle fatigue every day. On the 11th day, rats
were sacrificed and biochemical parameters such as creatine phospho-kinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured in the plasma.
Results: The different doses of the pistachio extract led to an increase in the fatigue time on days 2 (100 mg/kg) (p<0.05), 4
(10 and 100 mg/kg) (all p<0.05), 5 (10 and 1000 mg/kg) (all p<0.05), 7 (10 and 1000 mg/kg) (all p<0.05) and 9 (100 mg/kg)
(p<0.05). The induction of muscle fatigue led to an increase in the serum activity of CPK, LDH and AST (all p<0.01). The
pistachio extract (10 and 100 mg/kg) decreased the serum activities of LDH and AST (all p<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it was concluded that pistachios could decrease skeletal muscle fatigue in male Wistar rats.

Keywords

Pistachio and Health Journal
Volume 1, Issue 2
June 2018
Pages 17-21

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