The effect of Chamomile extract during endurance training on the levels of the hippocampus VEGF protein in rats with type 1 diabetes

Bazgir, Amirmohammad; Valipour Dehnou, Vahid

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The effect of Chamomile extract during endurance training on the levels of the hippocampus VEGF protein in rats with type 1 diabetes

Amirmohammad Bazgir

, Vahid Valipour Dehnou ^*

Sports Sciences Department, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran , Valipour.v@lu.ac.ir

Abstract: (385 Views)

Background: Chamomile extract and endurance exercise separately can be effective in improving cognitive function in type 1 diabetic individuals. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chamomile extract during endurance exercise on blood glucose levels and hippocampal VEGF protein in type 1 diabetic mice.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 adult male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (C), diabetes (D), diabetes-endurance training (DT), diabetes-chamomile extract (DS), and diabetes-chamomile extract- endurance training (DTS). Endurance training performed five sessions/w for eight weeks. Chamomile extract was administered orally by gavage at a dose of 250 mg/kg daily. Blood glucose and hippocampal DCX protein levels were measured. To analyze the data, one-way ANOVA was used at the significance level of p< .05.
Results: Blood glucose levels were higher in all diabetic groups compared to the C group (p=0.001). Both endurance training and chamomile extract significantly reduced blood glucose, but their combined effect was more significant (p=0.001). In addition, the VEGF protein levels of D, DT, and DS groups were significantly lower than those of C group (p=0.001). Also, the VEGF protein levels of all groups were significantly higher than those of D group (p<0.05). However, the VEGF protein levels of DS and DS groups were not significantly different (p=0.37). In addition, the VEGF protein levels of DT and DTS groups were not significantly different (p=0.13), but there was a significant difference between the VEGF protein levels of DS and DTS groups (p=0.002).
Conclusion: Chamomile extract and endurance training and their interaction have a positive effect on blood glucose and hippocampal VEGF protein levels in type 1 diabetes. Therefore, it seems that consuming chamomile extract during endurance training is a very effective strategy to improve cognitive function in type 1 diabetes.

Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, endurance training, chamomile extract, VEGF protein

Type of Study: Applicable | Subject: General
Received: 2025/09/13 | Revised: 2026/06/15 | Accepted: 2026/05/13

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