The Effect of 12 Weeks of Green Tea Extract Consumption on Expression of Bax and bcl-2 Genes of Old ’Rats’ Heart Tissue in Response to Acute Exhaustive Exercise

The incidence of heart disease increases with age. Green tea is an antioxidant that can prevent cellular senescence. Mitochondria play a vital role in the intracellular pathway of apoptosis. Bax and bcl-2 proteins are the main regulators of mitochondrial apoptosis. Thus, the present study is aimed at investigating the effect of 12 weeks of green tea extract consumption on expression Bax and bcl-2 genes of old rats’ heart tissue in response to acute exhaustive exercise. Thirty-two male rats were randomly assigned to two groups of supplement and non-supplement, each consisting of 16 rats. The supplement group received green tea extract for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12 weeks, each of these groups was further divided into two groups of rest and acute exhaustive exercise. The non-supplement with the rest group was called the control group. The non-supplement with exercise group was called exercise group, the supplement group with rest was called the supplement group and finally, the last group was entitled to supplement with exercise. After 12 weeks of taking green tea extract, one session of the acute exhaustive exercise was held on the treadmill. The real-time PCR method was used to measure the expression of Bax and bcl-2 genes. The results showed that 12 weeks of green tea extract consumption significantly reduced Bax gene expression and Bax to bcl-2 gene expression ratio and significantly increased cardiac tissue bcl-2 gene expression in response to acute exhaustive exercise. About acute exhaustive exercise session, it significantly increased Bax gene expression and Bax to bcl-2 gene expression ratio as well as significantly decreasing bcl-2 gene expression in heart tissue. The study concludes that 12 weeks of green tea extract can reduce Bax gene expression and Bax to bcl-2 gene expression ratio and significantly increase cardiac tissue bcl-2 gene expression at rest and after acute exhaustive exercise