Effect of thyme extract supplementation on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, PGC-1Alpha content and endurance exercise performance in rats

Background Athletes have a large extent of oxidant agent production. In the current study, we aimed to determine the influence of thyme extract on the endurance exercise performance, mitochondrial biogenesis, and antioxidant status in rats. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups receiving either normal drinking water (non-supplemented group, n = 10) or thyme extract, 400 mg/kg, (supplemented group, n = 10). Rats in both groups were subjected to endurance treadmill training (27 m/min, 10% grade, 60 min, and 5 days/week for 8 weeks). Finally, to determine the endurance capacity, time to exhaustion treadmill running at 36 m/min speed was assessed. At the end of the endurance capacity test, serum and soleus muscle samples were collected and their superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were measured. Protein expression of PGC-1α, as a marker of mitochondrial biogenesis, was also determined in the soleus muscle tissue by immunoblotting assay. Results Findings revealed that the exhaustive running time in the treatment group was significantly (p