The Effect of Exercise Training and Portulaca Oleracea on Neurobehavioral Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important causes of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Portulaca oleracea (P.oleracea) is a rich source of antioxidants, which reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Exercise training has also been shown to improve mental function and enhance learning and memory efficacy. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the potential combined effect of P. oleracea and exercise training on neurobehavioral dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats. Methods: For this purpose, 50 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: 1) healthy control group (Con), 2) sedentary diabetic group (D), 3) diabetic rats treated with P. oleracea(D+Po), 4) diabetic rats treated with exercise training (D+Ex), and 5) diabetic rats treated with P.oleracea and exercise training (D+Po+Ex) simultaneously. Animals in the exercise groups were subjected to progressive swimming training for 12weeks. P.oleracea was mixed with standard pellet food for 12weeks. Neurobehavioral dysfunction was investigated by elevated plus-maze, shuttle box, open field, and novel object recognition tests.Results: Compared with the normal control group, rats in the sedentary diabetic group showed a more passive avoidance memory deficit and more anxiety, and less exploration. Due to exercise training and treatment with P. oleracea, the neurobehavioral deficit in the trained diabetic rats receiving P. oleracea reached the normal levels of those in the healthy group.Conclusion: These data demonstrated that diabetes causes significant neurobehavioral deficit. Nevertheless, swimming training and P. oleracea synergistically ameliorate and reverse the neurobehavioral deficit in STZ-induced diabetic male rats.