Aims: Herbal medicines and their derivatives were considered for treatment of diabetes and its side effects, for a long time. On the other hand, aerobic training considered as an essential treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic training and Pistacia atlantica extract consuming on plasma levels of Lipocalin-2 and insulin resistance index in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.

Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups normal control, diabetic control, diabetic+training, diabetic+extract, and diabetic+training+extract. Diabetes was induced by Streptozotocin (40mg/kg) intrapritoneal injection. 6 weeks of aerobic training on treadmill was the training program (5 sessions per week, each session 40 minutes at a speed of 20 meters per minute and the slope 5 degrees). At the end of each training session, extract groups received Pistacia atlantica extract (25mg/kg), based on the body weight. After six weeks, plasma levels of insulin, glucose and Lipocalin-2 were determined. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS 19 software by one-away ANOVA and LSD as a post hoc test.

Findings: No significant difference was observed, among the 5 groups in the Lipocalin-2 level (p=0.115), but the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), showed a significant difference among the 5 groups (p=0.025). The mean amount of HOMA-IR index in diabetes+training (p=0.025) and diabetes+training+extract consuming (p=0.017) groups in comparison to diabetic control group was significantly lower. There was no significant difference between HOMA-IR index in other diabetic groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Aerobic training, alone and combined with Pistacia atlantica extract consumption, by reducing insulin resistance, improves the oxidation disturbance effects of diabetes.