Protective effect of the combination of exercise and curcumin supplementation on cardiac system in rats exposed to lead

Effects of exercise training and curcumin supplementation, alone or combined on cardioprotective markers in left ventricle were investigated in rats during chronic exposure to lead acetate. Forty (40) male rats were randomly assigned to; sham (Sh), training + lead (TL), curcumin + lead (CL), training + curcumin + lead (TCL), and lead (L) groups. Heat shock protein (HSP72) and enzyme activities were determined in rat hearts after receiving 20 mg/kg of lead acetate in the TL, TCL, CL and L groups and 30 mg/kg turmeric in the TCL and CL groups for 8 weeks, 3 times a week. In addition, the rats in the TL and TCL groups performed treadmill running at a speed of 15 to 22 m/min for 25 to 64 min, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that administration of lead can evoke a significant increase in HSP72 and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the left ventricle homogenates and a significant decrease in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC). However, endurance training and\or curcumin supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in HSP72 and MDA levels and significant increase in the level of serum TAC (serum Total Antioxidant Capacity). These results can suggest that concomitant exercise and curcumin supplementation may have a more cardioprotective effect observed by amelioration of lead-induced cardiotoxicity.