The Synergistic Effect of Medicinal Plants and Exercise on Tau and SOD Levels in Beta Amyloid-Induced Alzheimer’s Model in Rats

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by cellular changes, including oxidative stress, neuronal inflammation, misfolded protein accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which lead to neuronal death. This study aimed to assess the synergistic effects of medicinal plants and exercise on Tau and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in a beta amyloid-induced Alzheimer’s model in rats. Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: 1) Healthy control (no surgery, Alzheimer induction, treated with medicinal herbs and exercise), 2) Sham, 3) Beta-amyloid (Aβ) group (Alzheimer’s model), 4) Alzheimer+exercise (4 weeks of interval training), 5) Alzheimer+marshmallow extract (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally every other day for 4 weeks), 6) Alzheimer+hyoscyamoside (10 mg/kg daily via gavage for 4 weeks), 7) Alzheimer+marshmallow extract+exercise, and 8) Alzheimer+hyoscyamoside+exercise. SOD and Tau levels were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Results: Significant differences in Tau and SOD levels were observed among the groups (P<0.05). Post-hoc tests showed increased Tau levels in the Alzheimer group compared to the control (P=0.001), marshmallow+Alzheimer+exercise (P=0.014), and hyoscyamoside+Alzheimer+exercise groups (P=0.003). Notably, SOD levels were significantly lower in the Alzheimer group compared to the control (P=0.002) and hyoscyamoside+Alzheimer+exercise (P=0.015) groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that marshmallow and hyoscyamoside extracts, combined with aerobic exercise, may offer neuroprotective benefits against beta-amyloid-induced Alzheimer’s disease, likely due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of these plants.