EFFECTS OF RED FRUIT (PANDANUS CONOIDEUS LAM) OIL ON EXERCISE ENDURANCE AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RATS AT MAXIMAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

BACKGROUND: Living cells continuously produce free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a part of metabolic processes. These free radicals are neutralized by an antioxidant defense system. Maximal physical activity can produce an imbalance between ROS and antioxidants and thus may cause oxidative stress, which is possibly related to fatigue and tissue injury. Red fruit oil contains high beta-carotene and tocopherol as antioxidants which could overcome oxidative stress condition.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of red fruit oil on exercise endurance and oxidative stress in rats at a maximal physical activity.

METHODS: Twenty-four male rats were divided into four groups. The control group (I) was administered with 1.5 ml distilled water, intervention groups (II), (III), and (IV) were administered with different doses of red fruit oil (0.15 ml/kgBW, 0.3 ml/kgBW, and 0.6 ml/kgBW, respectively). All groups were trained to swim for 4 weeks and then were forced to swim without a load until being exhausted. The malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels, and time of swimming to exhaustion were measured in all groups.

RESULT: The results showed that MDA level obtained was decreasing significantly (p < 0.05), GPx and time of swimming were increasing significantly (p < 0.05) in the intervention groups.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that red fruit oil can obviously reduce MDA level, increased GPx, and endurance and delay fatigue induced by maximal physical activity in the rat.