Background and Objective: Paraquat toxicity can damage organisms through mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. Evidence shows that regular exercise and appropriate antioxidant supplements can help reduce the complications caused by paraquat toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise training, along with piperine supplement, on the liver levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in Wistar rats induced with paraquat.
Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult Wistar rats were randomly placed into 5 groups of 8, including 1) sham, 2) negative control-paraquat, 3) paraquat + training, 4) paraquat + training + piperine, and 5) paraquat + piperine. Aerobic training included 7 weeks of walking on a treadmill (5 sessions per week for 30-40 min per session, at a speed of 10-18 m/min). Paraquat was administered to the rats by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight. The piperine supplement was daily gavaged at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight. The concentration of TNF-a and IL-10 was measured in the liver tissue.
Results: A significant increase in IL-10 and a decrease in TNF-a concentrations were observed between the paraquat-negative control groups compared to the sham, paraquat + exercise, paraquat + piperine, and paraquat + exercise + piperine groups (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean concentrations of TNF-a in the liver tissue between the two negative control groups - paraquat with paraquat + piperine supplement (P<0.05), paraquat + exercise + piperine (P<0.05), paraquat + exercise (P<0.05), and sham (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in concentrations of IL-10 in the liver tissue between the two negative control groups - paraquat with paraquat + piperine supplement, paraquat + exercise + piperine, paraquat + exercise), and sham (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The concentration of TNF-a and IL-10 in male rats induced with paraquat were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, compared to paraquat + piperine supplement, paraquat + exercise + piperine, paraquat + exercise, and sham groups. Therefore, it seems that performing aerobic exercise, along with piperine supplementation, can be a proper way to reduce the inflammation caused by paraquat.