The effect of flaxseed alcoholic extract and aerobic exercise on oxidative status of heart tissue in ovariectomized rats

Ovariectomy can induces oxidative stress in the body. Flaxseed is known as a rich source of natural antioxidants along with regular physical activity can also inhibit the destructive effect of oxidative stress. The present study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of flaxseed extract and aerobic exercise on the oxidative status of cardiac tissue in ovariectomized rats.

In this experimental study, 36 adult female Wistar rats weighing 250±25 gr were randomly divided into six equal groups (n=6) including healthy control, sham (surgical control), ovariectomy, ovariectomy-flaxseed extract, ovariectomy-exercise, and ovariectomy-exercise-flaxseed extract group. Aerobic exercises five days a week for eight weeks were performed on a treadmill. Moreover, the flaxseed treatment groups received 400 mg/kg body weight of flaxseed extract by gavage. At the end of the study, cardiac tissue samples from different animals were obtained and then total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde concentration (MDA), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzymes were measured. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Tukey test at the significant level of p<0.05.

The results showed that the activity of SOD, GPX, PON1 enzymes and TAC in ovariectomy mice was significantly lower than control mice but the MDA index was significantly increased (p<0.05). However the activity of SOD, GPX, PON1 enzymes and TAC levels were significantly higher and the MDA concentration was significantly lower (p<0.05) in mice of ovariectomy-exercise-extract group than the mice of ovariectomy, ovariectomy-extract and ovariectomy-exercise groups.

The results of this study showed that the combination of flaxseed extract and aerobic exercise more improved the activity of the antioxidant system, reduced the oxidation index of heart tissue in menopause and also the stress caused by aging.