Effects of Endurance Training and Tribulus terrestris Extract on Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Markers in the Liver Tissues of Rats Exposed to Arsenic

Introduction: Arsenic (As) is a toxic metal, which causes disorders in various tissues of the body, including the liver. Studies have shown that exercise and herbs such as Tribulus terrestris (T) have antioxidant effects on some diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of endurance training (ET) and T extract on oxidative stress and apoptosis markers in the liver tissues of rats exposed to As. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 49 rats, which were randomly assigned into seven groups of control, As, As with 5 mg/kg of T extract (As+T5), As with 10 mg/kg of T extract (As+T10), As with ET, As with ET and 5 mg/kg of T extract (As+ET+T5), and As with ET and 10 mg/kg of T extract (As+ET+T10). For eight weeks, study groups 2-6 consumed sodium arsenite (68 mg/l per day) dissolved in drinking water, and groups 5-7 ran on a treadmill five sessions per week (30 minutes per session) at the speed of 23 meters per minute. Results: Exposure to As significantly increased O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), cytochrome C, malondialdehyde (MDA), and prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), while decreasing hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (P=0.001). Training and T extract consumption reduced the concentration of MGMT, cytochrome C, MDA, and PAB, while increasing the hepatic ATP concentration (P=0.001). The T extract at the dose of 10 mg/kg could increase the ATP concentration and decrease cytochrome C, MDA, and PAB more significantly in the liver tissues compared to the dose of 5 mg/kg (P=0.001). In addition, the interactive effects of training and T extract consumption were significant on the reduction of MGMT, cytochrome C, MDA, and PAB concentrations and increasing the hepatic ATP concentration in the rats poisoned with As (P=0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, endurance training with the consumption of Tribulus terrestris extract could inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis, thereby exerting protective effects on liver tissues against arsenic poisoning. Therefore, these interventions could effectively diminish the effects of arsenic induction on liver tissues