Effect of Bunium persicum aqueous extract plus endurance exercise on cardiorespiratory capacity and serum lipid profile

OBJECTIVE(S) We examined the effects of endurance exercise in the presence of Bunium persicum extract administration on lipid profile and cardiorespiratory capacity in hypercholesterolemic male mice. Materials and Methods : Forty male hypercholesterolemic mice were divided into four groups: Vehicle, Endurance exercise (EE), Bunium persicum extract (BPE), and EE + BPE. The exercise protocol was performed at a speed of 18 m/min, 40 min/day, and 5 days/week for 6 weeks. The BPE was administered orally by a dose of 20 mg/Kg/day. RESULTS The results indicated that the 6-week endurance training accompanied by Bunium Persicum extract administration increased cardiorespiratory capacity significantly (601±39 vs. 293±20 meters, p<0.001). Total cholesterol level was significantly reduced in EE + BPE compared with Vehicle and EE groups (p<0.05). LDL-c was lower in EE + BPE compared with the Vehicle (p<0.01). HDL-c in BPE and EE + BPE groups was significantly higher than Vehicle (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Serum triglyceride level was significantly (p<0.05) lower in BPE than the other three groups. Body weight changes were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION The results suggested that Bunium persicum extract is very useful in improvement of lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic animals. Supplementation of the extract to exercise significantly increased the cardiorespiratory capacity.