The effect of endurance training and hydroalcoholic extract of Anethum Graveolens L. (dill) on biochemical cardiovascular risk factors in obese male rats

Obesity is a chronic disease and is a known risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and its risk can be independently decreased through lifestyle modification. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of endurance training and hydroalcoholic extract of dill on biochemical cardiovascular risk factors in obese male rats.

Thirty-two obese male rats (weighing 350-400 g) with aged 12 weeks were randomly divided into four equal groups (n=8) including endurance training (ETr: 10 weeks, 5 sessions per week at 75%VO2max), dill extract (DEx: 300 mg/kg body weight via gavage), endurance training+dill extract (ETr+DEx), and control (Ct). Eight rats (weighing 240-280 g) were also in the non-obese control (NCt) group. Fasting plasma lipid concentration was measured 48 hours after the last intervention session. Data were analyzed with one way ANOVA at P < 0.05 significance.

The result showed a significant increase in the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C in the Ct group compared to the NCt group (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in the plasma levels of LDL-C, VLDL-C, TG, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C in the ETr+DEx group and TC/HDL-C ratio in the ETr group compared to the Ct group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of HDL-C among groups (P > 0.05).

The results of this study showed that endurance training combined with the dill extract improved the plasma lipid profile. Therefore, it can be more effective in obesity complications reduction than exercise training or dill extract alone.