title: The effect of cinnamon extract and long-term aerobic training on heart function, biochemical alterations and lipid profile following exhaustive exercise in male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regular training is suggested to offer a host of benefits especially on cardiovascular system. In addition, medicinal plants can attenuate oxidative stress-mediated damages induced by stressor insults. In this study, we investigated the concomitant effect of cinnamon extract and long-term aerobic training on cardiac function, biochemical alterations and lipid profile following exhaustive exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were divided into five groups depending on receiving regular training, cinnamon bark extraction, none or both of them, and then encountered with an exhausted exercise in last session. An 8-week endurance training program was designed with a progressive increase in training speed and time. Myocardial hemodynamics was monitored using a balloon-tipped catheter inserted into left ventricles. Blood samples were collected for analyzing biochemical markers, lipid profiles and lipid-peroxidation marker, malondealdehyde (MDA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trained animals showed an enhanced cardiac force and contractility similar to cinnamon-treated rats. Co-application of regular training and cinnamon had additive effect in cardiac hemodynamic (P<0.05). Both regular training and supplementation with cinnamon significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level and HDL/LDL ratio as compared to control group (P<0.01). Furthermore, pre-treatment with cinnamon extract and/or regular training significantly reduced MDA level elevation induced by exhausted exercise (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment of rats with cinnamon and regular training improved cardiac hemodynamic through an additive effect. The positive effects of cinnamon and regular training on cardiac function were associated with a reduced serum MDA level and an improved blood lipid profile.
authors: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Badalzadeh
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mehrnoush
authors: M
authors: Shaghaghi
authors: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Dehghan
authors: Medical Science Supreme Programming Council, Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical education, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Zeynab
authors: Z
authors: Mohammadi
keywords: Cinnamon; Lipid profile; MDA; Regular training