Interaction of Concurrent Exercise Training and Milk thistle Extract on Hippocampi, NF-κB, and Serotonin of PTSD in Male Rats

Nameni, Farah; Sorkheh, Fatemeh; Soltaniesmailzade, Fatemeh

Volume 12, Issue 1 (June 2026) Elderly Health Journal 2026, 12(1): 46-58 | Back to browse issues page

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Nameni F, Sorkheh F, Soltaniesmailzade F. Interaction of Concurrent Exercise Training and Milk thistle Extract on Hippocampi, NF-κB, and Serotonin of PTSD in Male Rats. Elderly Health Journal 2026; 12 (1) :46-58
URL: http://ehj.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-376-en.html

Interaction of Concurrent Exercise Training and Milk thistle Extract on Hippocampi, NF-κB, and Serotonin of PTSD in Male Rats

Farah Nameni ^*

, Fatemeh Sorkheh

, Fatemeh Soltaniesmailzade

Department of Exercise Physiology, VaP. C., Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran , fa.nameni@iau.ac.ir

Abstract: (43 Views)

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by chronic neuroinflammation, impaired serotonergic signaling, and structural damage in both central and peripheral tissues, including the hippocampus and liver. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) plays a central role in stress-induced inflammatory responses. Exercise and phytotherapeutic agents such as milk thistle (Silybum marianum) have been suggested as potential non-pharmacological strategies for attenuating PTSD-related pathophysiology.
Methods: Fifty-five male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups: healthy control, PTSD, PTSD with concurrent exercise training, PTSD with milk thistle extract, and PTSD with concurrent exercise training plus milk thistle extract. PTSD was induced using a multi-stage stress protocol. The concurrent exercise training program was conducted for 4 weeks, consisting of resistance training on even days and aerobic training on odd days. Resistance training was performed with progressively increasing loads from 50% to 80% of body weight, and aerobic training from 50% to 80% of VO₂max. Milk thistle extract was administered daily at a dose of 300 mg/kg. After the intervention, hippocampal and liver tissues were collected. NF-κB mRNA expression was measured using real-time PCR, and serotonin levels were measured by ELISA. Histopathological alterations were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests.
Results: PTSD induction significantly increased NF-κB mRNA expression and decreased serotonin levels in both hippocampal and liver tissues compared with healthy controls. Concurrent exercise training and milk thistle extract each significantly attenuated NF-κB overexpression and partially restored serotonin levels (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed severe neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus and marked structural damage in liver tissue in PTSD rats, whereas both interventions, particularly their combination, markedly improved tissue morphology.
Conclusion: Concurrent exercise training and milk thistle extract exert synergistic neuroprotective and hepatoprotective effects in a rat model of PTSD. These benefits appear to be mediated through suppression of NF-κB–dependent inflammatory pathways and restoration of serotonergic homeostasis.

Keywords: PTSD, Exercise Training, Milk Thistle Extract, Serotonin, NF-κB

Full-Text [PDF 820 kb] (9 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2026/03/25 | Accepted: 2026/06/9 | Published: 2026/06/20

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