Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Prof., Dept. of Professional Physical Education and Sport Science, Science, and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4
Department of Exercise Physiology, VaP.C., Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran
10.22122/jeoct.2026.605947.1231
Abstract
Introduction: Aerobic exercise and cannabidiol extract may modulate oxidative stress markers under high-fat diet conditions; however, their simultaneous effects on hippocampal Nrf2 gene expression and serum MDA in high-fat diet-induced obesity have not been examined. This study investigated six weeks of aerobic exercise and cannabidiol extract in obese male Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups (n = 8/group): healthy control, HFD, HFD+Tr, HFD+Sup, and HFD+Tr+Sup. HFD groups received a high-fat diet for two months before intervention. Aerobic training involved treadmill running for six weeks, five sessions/week. Cannabidiol extract was administered by gavage at 100 ng/kg. After intervention, rats were sacrificed; hippocampal Nrf2 gene expression and serum MDA were measured by Real-Time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results: HFD significantly increased serum MDA and decreased hippocampal Nrf2 expression (p < 0.05). MDA was significantly higher in HFD and HFD+Tr than healthy control, but significantly lower in HFD+Sup and HFD+Tr+Sup than HFD (p < 0.05). Nrf2 expression was significantly higher in HFD+Sup and HFD+Tr+Sup than HFD, higher in both extract-treated groups than healthy control, and higher in HFD+Sup than HFD+Tr (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Cannabidiol extract, alone or combined with aerobic exercise, may partly reduce adverse high-fat-diet effects on oxidative status and improve antioxidant defense capacity. Further studies are necessary.
Keywords
Subjects
