Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University Journal of Applied Health Studies in Sport Physiology 2676-6507 11 2 2024 09 22 Effects of Strenuous Endurance Training and Salvia Officinalis Supplementation on the Levels of Hippocampal Malondialdehyde and Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Endurance Performance of Male Wistar Rats Effects of Strenuous Endurance Training and Salvia Officinalis Supplementation on the Levels of Hippocampal Malondialdehyde and Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Endurance Performance of Male Wistar Rats 82 92 14762 10.22049/jahssp.2024.29366.1625 FA Vahid Neamati Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran Ahmad Rahmani Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran. Akram Karimi Asl Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran Mehdi Tavakoli Zadeh Isfahani Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. Agha Ali Ghasemnian Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran Journal Article 2024 01 20 <strong>Aim</strong>:     <strong> </strong>Intense aerobic activities can increase oxidative stress in the central nervous system, compromising physical performance. Herbal supplements have been studied for their potential to counteract oxidative stress. This study investigated the impact of eight weeks of endurance training and Salvia Officinalis extract supplementation on hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and endurance performance in male Wistar rats. <strong>Methods:</strong> Twenty-eight male Wistar rats, after one week of acclimation, randomly were divided into five groups: control (n=6), exercise (n=5), extract (n=6), saline (n=6), and exercise-extract (n=5). The exercise program consisted of eight weeks of endurance training on a treadmill, with five sessions per week. The animals received a dose of 100 ml/kg bodyweight of Salvia Officinalis extract by oral gavage before each exercise session. Hippocampal MDA and TAC levels were determined via spectrophotometry, while endurance performance was evaluated through an exhaustion test. Statistical analyses were conducted utilizing SPSS version 16 and ANOVA tests at a significance level of 0.05. <strong>Results:</strong> Compared to the control group, the exercise group displayed elevated hippocampal MDA levels (p<0.001). Moreover, the exercise-extract group had significantly reduced MDA levels compared to the exercise group (p=0.025). No significant differences in hippocampal TAC levels were observed between the exercise and control groups (p>0.05). However, both the TAC levels and endurance performance of the exercise-extract group were considerably enhanced compared to the exercise group (p<0.05).<strong> Conclusion</strong>: These findings suggest that intense endurance exercise leads to oxidative stress in the hippocampal area. Supplementation with Salvia Officinalis extract seems to effectively mitigate oxidative stress caused by intense exercise, ultimately improving endurance performance. <strong>Aim</strong>:     <strong> </strong>Intense aerobic activities can increase oxidative stress in the central nervous system, compromising physical performance. Herbal supplements have been studied for their potential to counteract oxidative stress. This study investigated the impact of eight weeks of endurance training and Salvia Officinalis extract supplementation on hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and endurance performance in male Wistar rats. <strong>Methods:</strong> Twenty-eight male Wistar rats, after one week of acclimation, randomly were divided into five groups: control (n=6), exercise (n=5), extract (n=6), saline (n=6), and exercise-extract (n=5). The exercise program consisted of eight weeks of endurance training on a treadmill, with five sessions per week. The animals received a dose of 100 ml/kg bodyweight of Salvia Officinalis extract by oral gavage before each exercise session. Hippocampal MDA and TAC levels were determined via spectrophotometry, while endurance performance was evaluated through an exhaustion test. Statistical analyses were conducted utilizing SPSS version 16 and ANOVA tests at a significance level of 0.05. <strong>Results:</strong> Compared to the control group, the exercise group displayed elevated hippocampal MDA levels (p<0.001). Moreover, the exercise-extract group had significantly reduced MDA levels compared to the exercise group (p=0.025). No significant differences in hippocampal TAC levels were observed between the exercise and control groups (p>0.05). However, both the TAC levels and endurance performance of the exercise-extract group were considerably enhanced compared to the exercise group (p<0.05).<strong> Conclusion</strong>: These findings suggest that intense endurance exercise leads to oxidative stress in the hippocampal area. Supplementation with Salvia Officinalis extract seems to effectively mitigate oxidative stress caused by intense exercise, ultimately improving endurance performance. https://jahssp.azaruniv.ac.ir/article_14762_0183fb76c32a074c6418d17a3e5479c9.pdf