Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

The effect of Chamomile extract during endurance training on the levels of blood glucose and the hippocampus DCX protein in rats with type 1 diabetes

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Author
Sports Sciences Department, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
10.48305/jims.v44.i851.0143
Abstract
Background: The effects of chamomile extract and endurance training on the improvement of some diabetes indices have been determined, but their effect on blood glucose and hippocampal DCX has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of chamomile extract during endurance training on blood glucose and hippocampal DCX protein in rats with type 1 diabetes.
Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into control (C), diabetes (D), diabetes-endurance training (DT), diabetes-chamomile extract (DS), and diabetes-chamomile extract- endurance training (DTS) groups. Training performed five sessions/w for eight weeks. Blood glucose and hippocampal DCX protein were measured.
Findings: Blood glucose of all groups was significantly higher than C group (p=0.001). Blood glucose in DT, DS and DTS groups was significantly lower than D group (p=0.001). But, blood glucose in DS group was lower than DT group (p=0.001). Also, the blood glucose of the DTS group was significantly lower than DT and DS groups (p=0.001). However, DCX protein of all groups was significantly lower than C group (p=0.001). Also, DCX protein of DS and DTS groups was significantly greater than D group (p<0.05). However, DCX protein of DT and DS groups was not significantly different (p=0.95). But, DCX protein of DT and DS groups was significantly lower than DTS group (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The interaction effect of chamomile and training was greater than their effect alone on glucose and DCX. Therefore, it is suggested that chamomile be consumed during training to enhance their effects on glucose and hippocampal DCX protein.

Highlights

Vahid Valipour Dehnou: Google Scholar

Keywords

Subjects


1.     Ho N, Sommers MS, Lucki I. Effects of diabetes on hippocampal neurogenesis: links to cognition and depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37(8): 1346-62.
2.     Hoeger WW, Hoeger SA, Hoeger CI, Fawson AL. Fitness and wellness: Cengage; 2019.
3.     Sani A, Tajik A, Seiiedi SS, Khadem R, Tootooni H, Taherynejad M, et al. A review of the anti-diabetic potential of saffron. Nutr Metab Insights 2022; 15: 11786388221095223.
4.     Lotfi Vanashi A, Ghamari F, Farahmand S, Jamshidi A. Study of antimicrobial and antioxidant effects and phytochemical characteristics of Matricaria recutita L, Nigella sativa L., Fumaria parviflora Lam and Myrtus communis L. Extracts on pathogenic bacteria from human blood and urine cultures [in Persian]. Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2023; 18(2): 39-49.
5.     Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, Varshosaz P, Jafari-Vayghan H, Alizadeh M, Maleki V. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and diabetes mellitus, current knowledge and the way forward: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2020; 48: 102284.
6.     Saeedi M, Khanavi M, Shahsavari K. Matricaria chamomilla: an updated review on biological activities of the plant and constituents. Res J Pharmacogn 2024; 11(1): 109-36.
7.     Rafraf M, Zemestani M, Asghari-Jafarabadi M. Effectiveness of chamomile tea on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Endocrinol Invest 2015; 38(2): 163-70.
8.     Kato A, Minoshima Y, Yamamoto J, Adachi I, Watson AA, Nash RJ. Protective effects of dietary chamomile tea on diabetic complications. J Agric Food Chem 2008; 56(17): 8206-11.
9.     Moshfegh A, Setorki M. Neuroprotective effect of matricaria chamomilla extract on motor dysfunction induced by transient global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rat. Zahedan J Res Med Sci 2017; 19(9): e10927.
10.  Valipour DV. The effect of saffron extract during resistance training on BDNF Protein expression in the hippocampus of rats with type 2 diabetes [in Persian]. IJDLD 2024; 24(5): 302-9.
11.  Gualtieri F, Brégère C, Laws GC, Armstrong EA, Wylie NJ, Moxham TT, et al. Effects of environmental enrichment on doublecortin and BDNF expression along the dorso-ventral axis of the dentate gyrus. Front Neurosci 2017; 11: 488.
12.  Mohammadbeygi S, Valipour Dehnou V. Effects of a moderate intensity aerobic exercise on serum levels of BDNF, DCX, and DBHB in triathlon male adolescents [in Persian]. Yafteh 2021; 23(4): 86-96.
13.  Cholerton B, Baker LD, Montine TJ, Craft S. Type 2 diabetes, cognition, and dementia in older adults: toward a precision health approach. Diabetes Spectr 2016; 29(4): 210-9.
14.  Grossman LD, Roscoe R, Shack AR, Committee DCCPGE. Complementary and alternative medicine for diabetes. Can J Diabetes 2018; 42: S154-S61.
15.  Ghanbari-Niaki A. Treadmill exercise training enhances ATP-binding cassette protein-A1 (ABCA1) expression in male rats’ heart and gastrocnemius muscles. Int J Endocrinol Metab 2010; 8(4): 206-10.
16.  Gomaa A, Hashem T, Mohamed M, Ashry E. Matricaria chamomilla extract inhibits both development of morphine dependence and expression of abstinence syndrome in rats. J Pharmacol Sci 2003; 92(1): 50-5.
17.  Akhgarjand C, Moludi J, Ebrahimi-Mousavi S, Bagheri A, Bavani NG, Beigmohammadi MT, Malekahmadi M. The effect of chamomile consumption on glycemic markers in humans and animals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2024; 23(1): 189-98.
18.  Zemestani M, Rafraf M, Asghari-Jafarabadi M. Chamomile tea improves glycemic indices and antioxidants status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition 2016; 32(1): 66-72.
19.  Colberg SR, Sigal RJ, Yardley JE, Riddell MC, Dunstan DW, Dempsey PC, et al. Physical activity/exercise and diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care 2016; 39(11): 2065-75.
20.  Pedersen BK. Physical activity and muscle–brain crosstalk. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2019; 15(7): 383-92.
21.  Codina‐Martínez H, FernándezGarcía B, Díez‐Planelles C, Fernández ÁF, Higarza SG, Fernández‐Sanjurjo M, et al. Autophagy is required for performance adaptive response to resistance training and exercise‐induced adult neurogenesis. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30(2): 238-53.
22.  Azhideh S, Valipour-Dehnou V, Hasanzadeh Sartiuki S, Molanouri-Shamsi M, Gahreman D. Effects of open and closed-skill exercises on serum levels of Cathepsin B, Irisin, BDNF and Doublecortin in female wrestlers [in Persian]. Journal of Applied Exercise Physiology 2021; 17(33): 61-71.
23.  Naimi S, Valipour Dehnou V, Moeini M. Studying the Effect of six weeks of aerobic exercise on the protein levels of DCX and AMPA in the hippocampus of diabetic rats [in Persian]. Iranian Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism. IJDLD 2023; 22(6): 372-83.
24.  Sumbul-Sekerci B, Sekerci A, Pasin O, Durmus E, Yuksel-Salduz ZI. Cognition and BDNF levels in prediabetes and diabetes: A mediation analysis of a cross-sectional study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14: 1120127.
Bahramnejad M, Dehnou VV, Eslami R. A New, Simple and Practical Approach to Increase the Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Serum Levels of Neurotrophic Factors in Adult Males. Int J Exerc Sci 2023; 16(2): 932-41
Volume 44, Issue 851
3rd Week, April
March and April 2026
Pages 143-149

  • Receive Date 24 May 2025
  • Accept Date 15 May 2026