Abstract
Background: The exhaustive and strenuous exercise may cause damaging effects to the heart. The present study aims to investigate the effect of Saffron stigmas aqueous extracts on serum cardiac troponin T and Creatine kinase MB isoenzyme of male rats following an exhaustive exercise.
Materials and Methods: 64 Wistar male rats were assigned into following four groups (n=16) :1) without exercise +distilled water 2 ml, 2) without exercise+ aqueous saffron extract, 50 mg/kg+ distilled water 2 ml, 3) distilled water 2 ml + 8 weeks exercise, and 4) aqueous saffron extract, 50 mg/kg +distilled water 2 ml + 8 weeks exercise.At the end of experiment, half of the rats were killed immediately before exhaustive exercise; on the other hand remaining rats were killed immediately after performing an acute bout of exhaustive exercise on the treadmill. Serum cardiac troponin T and CK-MB isoenzyme levels were measured by ELISA and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. Data were analyzed by one–way ANOVA.
Results: The results show that in all groups, cardiac troponin T and CK-MB isoenzyme serum levels were significantly increased following an exhaustive exercise. The lowest increase was observed in group 4 and the highest increase was observed in group 1 (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of saffron extract with aerobic training is more effective than aerobic exercise or saffron extract alone in modifying the increase of serum troponin T and CK-MB isoenzyme level following an exhausting exercise.
