Comparing the Effects of Rosemary Extract and Treadmill Exercise on the Hippocampal Function and Antioxidant Capacity in Old Rats

Background: A sequence of time-dependent changes can affect the brainchr('39')s functional capacity. Aims: This study aimed at investigating the effects of forced aerobic exercise (FAE) versus the rosemary extract (RE) on the learning abilities and oxidative stress modulation in rats. Methods: Young and old rats received daily FAE and RE for 3 months. Using the passive avoidance (PA) test, we evaluated the learning and memory of the rats by step-through latency (STL) score. We measured the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CATA), malondialdehyde (MDA) enzymes levels, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the hippocampus. Results: FAE could significantly increase the STL score (P<0.001) among old rats similar to the rosemary extract consumption. The SOD, GPx, and CATA enzyme activities and the level of TAC significantly increased by the treatments (exercise: P<0.001 for SOD and TAC and P<0.05 for CATA, exercise/rosemary: P<0.001 for all enzymes, and rosemary: P<0.01 for SOD and TAC). Furthermore, the MDA level significantly decreased by the treatments (exercise and exercise/rosemary: P<0.001, rosemary: P<0.01). The partial Pearson test revealed the significant positive correlations between the score of STL (day 2) with the SOD (P<0.01) and TAC (P<0.05) levels and negative correlations between the MDA level and STL score in both days (P<0.05 for the first day and P<0.001 for the second day). Conclusion: Similar to the rosemary extract, FAE could increase the working memory and antioxidants activity in old rats in 3 months.