Effect of different loads of exercise and Nigella sativa L. seed extract on serologic and hematologic parameters in rat

ABSTRACT

There are many recommendations for prophylactic usage of Nigella sativa L. for healing fatigue and body strengthening. However, a scientific and standard method for diagnosis and management of overtraining in athletes has not been introduced. Here, we studied the effect of different loads of exercise and N. sativa treatment on serologic and hematologic parameters in rat was examined. Male Wistar rats were divided into control sedentary (C), moderate trained (MT), overtrained (OT), control sedentary + N. sativa (NC), moderate trained + N. sativa (NM) and overtrained + N. sativa (NO) treatment. Animals’ performances were evaluated before and during the study. Immediately, 24 h and two weeks after the last bout of exercise serum concentration of corticosterone and lactate as well as total and differential WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, corpuscular indices and platelets were also measured. Increasing training load caused a significant performance decline in OT and OR groups (P <0.01-P <0.001). Compared to control group, serum corticosterone and lactate concentrations were significantly increased after moderate exercise and overtraining (P <0.05 to P <0.001), total WBC count (P 0.001), lymphocytes (P <0.01) and monocytes (P <0.01) were decreased in overtraining animal. N. sativa treatment caused a significant decrease in lactate concentration in overtraining (P <0.01) and serum corticosterone in all exercised (P <0.05) compared to untreated groups. Overtraining induced chronic inflammatory like changes, performance decline, stress hormone elevation, and WBC count decrement. N. sativa administration improved corticosterone elevation and metabolic state.