Antioxidative effects of hydroalcoholic extract of silybum marianum (l.) Gaertn (silymarin) on a single session of exhaustive aerobic exercise-induced oxidative stress markers response in active male

Background and Objective: Silybum marianum has antioxidant, stabilizes cell membranes and regulate cell permeability properties. The aim of this study was to determining the effect of short-term silymarin supplementation on some of antioxidant (GPx and SOD) and oxidative stress (MDA) indices response in serum active men after one-session exhaustive aerobic exercise.



Materials and Methods: Twenty active male (mean age 25.09±2.11 years, body fat 13.56±1.94% and VO2max 50.5±4.88 ml/kg-1/min) in a quasi-experimental and double-blind design were divided into two homogeneous supplement and placebo groups of 10 subjects: (6 mg.kg-1.day silymarin or dextrose). After 14-days of supplementation, all subjects were participated in exhaustive aerobic exercise protocol (running on the treadmill at the 0% incline with 65-70% HR reserve until exhaustion). Blood samples were taken at four phases (baseline, after supplementation period, immediately and one hour after the exercise).



Results: The results show that the 14-day silymarin intake had significant effect on the basal antioxidative enzymes (GPx and SOD) capacity (p≤0.01). Moreover, exhaustive aerobic exercise in order the significantly reducing antioxidative power (P≤0.05) and significantly increased the oxidative stress markers (MDA) (P≤0.05). However, increased levels of oxidative stress markers of placebo group was significantly more than in the silymarin group (P≤0.01).



Conclusion: Our results suggest that increased basal antioxidative capacity following silymarin supplementation can cause decrease of the undesirable alterations of exercise-induced oxidative damage in active male.