Simultaneous Effects of Aerobic Training and Berberine Chloride on Plasma Glucose, IL-6 and TNF-α in Type 1 Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Background and Objectives: Aerobic training and berberine chloride include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. In the current study, simultaneous effects of aerobic training and berberine chloride on plasma glucose, IL-6 and TNF-α were investigated in type 1 diabetic male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 64 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n=8), including healthy control, diabetic control, diabetic-berberine (15 and 30 mg/kg), diabetic-training, diabetic-training-berberine (15 and 30 mg/kg) and health-trained. Diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection (IP) of streptozotocin (STZ) of 60 mg/kg body weight (BW). The training schedule included running on a treadmill for six weeks, five sessions a week and daily intakes of berberine using gavage. The IL-6 and TNF-α values were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: Results showed that the glucose concentration in diabetic groups with aerobic training and intake of berberine simultaneously was significantly lower than that in the diabetic control group (P<0.05). Plasma IL-6 in the diabetic control group significantly increased, compared to that in the normal control group (P<0.05). In diabetic groups that received the two treatments simultaneously, IL-6 significantly increased, compared to that in the diabetic control group (P<0.05). The quantity of TNF-α in the diabetic control group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). The plasma level of TNF-α significantly decreased in all treatment groups, compared to that in the diabetic control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Combined effects of berberine chloride use and aerobic training on blood glucose, IL-6 and TNF- α are more evident than their individual effects. Furthermore, a dose of 30 mg/kg of berberine chloride included a greater effect on the highlighted blood parameters, compared to that a dose of 15 mg/kg of berberine chloride did.