The effect of six weeks of aerobic exercise with pomegranate peel extract on liver enzymes of obese female rats

Background & Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of six weeks of aerobic training and supplementation of pomegranate peel extract on the activity of liver enzymes in obese rats. Methods: 30 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, obese, obese+ aerobic exercise, obese+ pomegranate peel extract, obese+ aerobic exercise+ pomegranate peel extract. Obesity was induced by gavage of 0.5 ml per 100 g of body weight of palm oil frying for 4 weeks (5 days a week). The aerobic training program was performed on a treadmill for six weeks (five 30-minute sessions per week with an intensity of 50 to 60% Vo2max). Pomegranate peel extract at a dose of 60 mg per kg was administered by gavage in the morning for 6 weeks. Feresh method was used to prepare serum samples and determine ALT, AST and ALP values of liver tissue and the data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Induction of obesity significantly increased the activity of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes in the liver (P< 0.05).The main effect of aerobic exercise, the main effect of pomegranate peel extract and the interactive effect of aerobic exercise and pomegranate peel extract on all three liver enzymes of obese female rats were significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of pomegranate peel extract and aerobic exercise modulate the levels of biomarkers or compensate for the impaired liver enzymatic activity in obese female subjects after six weeks of intervention.