Abstract

         Background and Objective: According to Iranian, Asian, Indian, and Chinese traditional medicine, basil is used in the treatment of different diseases. In this study, the effect of basil on lowering the blood glucose was examined in healthy and diabetic rats.

        Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into a control group(n=10), a basil receiving group (n=20) and a diabetic group (n=30)(60 mg/kg Streptozotocin- Intraperitoneal injection) and the rats in each group received basil orally in pairs. Forty-eight hours after injection of streptozotocin, 2 and 4 mg/kg doses of basil were prescribed orally for the diabetic group daily for 45 days. in end of study for record serum testosterone ,5 cc blood was sampled from each rat.

       Results: There was a significant correlation between the oral administration of 2 and 4 mg/kg doses of basil and reduced blood glucose level and testosterone changes in the diabetic groups (P<0.05). Twenty-four hours after the first administration, basil caused a significant decrease in the blood glucose level and this  effects continued for 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. In contrast, basil had no hypoglycemic effect in the healthy rats.

         Conclusion: The results indicated that 2 and 4 mg/kg doses of basil had significant hypoglycemic effects on the diabetic groups and compensated for the testosterone level in diabetic rats, but had no effect on the healthy rats.

        Keywords: Streptozotocin, Testosterone, Ocimum basiilicum, Diabetes Mellitus.

ABSTRACT

          Background and Objective: Adipose tissue secrets various hormones including adiponectin, which is closely related to weight control and energy, balance. This study investigated the effects of resistance training on adiponectin, testosterone and cortisol levels in untrained men.  

           Methods: Forty untrained men (mean age of 23.8±2.66 years, mean weight of 67.43 ± 4.96 kg) were randomly and equally assigned into groups of upper extremity resistance training, lower extremity resistance training, combined resistance training, and control. The subjects performed eight weeks of weight training, three sessions per week (five sets of 60-85% one repetition maximum). Blood sampling was done prior to the start of the program, after the fourth week, and after the eight week. Alpha level was set to 0.05 for all statically analyses.

         Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed that eight weeks of upper extremities training significantly decreased body fat percentage (p=0.002, 7.39%), and significantly increased adiponectin (p=0.000; 90.42%) and testosterone (p=0.002; 24.19%) levels. In the lower extremities training group, body fat percentage (p=0.006, 7.39%) decreased significantly, while adiponectin (p=0.012; 87.82%) and testosterone (p=0.000; 23.54%) levels increased significantly compared to the pretest. Eight weeks of combined training significantly increased BMI (p=0.006, 1.88%), muscle mass (p=0.007, 2.24%), and adiponectin (p=0.000, 91.56%) level. However, cortisol level decreased (p=0.017, 19.17%) after four weeks of training.  

         Conclusion: Upper and lower extremities resistance trainings significantly change testosterone levels. Different types of resistance training significantly increases serum adiponectin level and changes body composition, which are effective in prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

         Keywords: Resistance Training, Adiponectin, Testosterone, Cortisol.