Sport Physiology & Management Investigations

Sport Physiology & Management Investigations

The Synergistic Effect of Physical Activity in an Enriched Environment and Ursolic Acid Supplementation on Improving the Oxidative Stress Index SOD/MDA in the Serum of Aged Male Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fariba Yousefi
Foad Feizolahi
َAmir Sarshin
Alireza Rahimi
Department of Exercise Physiology, Ka. C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
10.22034/spmi.2026.546772.2798
Abstract
Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance between the production of free radicals and their scavenging systems and has been proposed as one of the hypotheses of aging. In the present study, the effect of simultaneous administration of physical activity in an enriched environment and ursolic acid supplementation on the SOD to MDA ratio in aged male rats was investigated. In this experimental study, 20 male Wistar rats (18-20 months old and weighing 320-350 g) were divided into 4 groups: solvent group, supplement group (ursolic acid gavage, 250 mg/kg body weight, 5 days per week), activity group (5 sessions per week, each session lasting 30 minutes in an enriched environment), and supplement + activity group. Two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the data. All calculations were analyzed using SPSS software version 27 (α ≤ 0.05). There was no significant interaction between interventions for the MDA variable, but there was a significant interaction for SOD and the SOD to MDA ratio. In general, the SOD/MDA ratio improved with supplementation and physical activity. Perhaps simultaneous administration of ursolic acid supplementation and regular voluntary physical activity in an enriched environment in aging can increase the amount of antioxidants and reduce oxidative stress, ultimately improving SOD/MDA.
Keywords
SOD
MDA
Ursolic acid
Physical activity
Aging