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Abstract Background & aim: Diabetes can affect the spinal cord, an important part of the central nervous system. Fenugreek seed has been suggested to have potential antidiabetic effects. This study was conducted to assess the effects of Fenugreek seed extract (trigonella foenum-graecum ) on fetal spinal cord structure, specifically in the brachial enlargement cord in an 18-day old fetus of diabetic mothers treated with extracts in comparison with the control groups' mothers. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, sixteen healthy female rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: Healthy control, Diabetes control, Fenugreek control, Fenugreek treatment. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotcin (50 mg/kg). All four groups became pregnant by natural mating. After formation of the nervous system, two fetuses from each group were expelled by cesarean after performing anesthesia on the animals on 18th day of pregnancy furthermore their brachial enlargement spinal cord samples were taken. Finally, the tissue sections were prepared by routine procedures and diverse histological parameters were examined. The collected data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: results showed that fetal body weight on the diabetic control group was significantly higher compared to the other groups (P≤ 0/05). Moreover, significant reductions in the transvers and vertical diameters in central channel of the spinal cord and as well in the number of neurons of the spinal cord gray matter in the diabetic control groups in comparison with the other groups were observed (P≤0/05). Conclusion: The hyperglycemic effect of maternal diabetes during fetal period causes abnormalities, especially in the brachial enlargement of spinal cord, including changes in the spinal cord and neurons number in the gray matter. Disorders occurring in the prenatal remains and may perhaps cause lack of ability to perform certain physical activities. Key words: Fenugreek, Streptozotocin, Diabetes, Spinal Cord

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Background and aim: Diabetes mellitus is associated with some of the metabolic dysfunctions represented with chronic hyperglycemia.  This disease can disrupt the function of testicular tissue and decline male sexual ability. Some of the medicinal herbs such as fenugreeks have protective effects on tissues via hypoglycemic and anti-oxidative properties. In the present paper,  the effects of fenugreek seed extract was evaluated on testicular tissue of 20 day-old embryos from diabetic rats.

Methods: In the present experimental study, sixty normal female rats were divided into three normal groups: non-diabetic control, glibenclamide and fenugreek groups and three diabetic groups: diabetic control, glibenclamide treatment and fenugreek treatment groups. Single injection of streptozotocin was used for induction of diabetes in these female rats. After detection of pregnancy, 1000 mg/kg fenugreek seed extract was fed to non-diabetic and diabetic fenugreek groups and 5 mg/kg glibenclamide was fed to non-diabetic and diabetic glibenclamide groups. Non-diabetic and diabetic control group was fed with distilled water as the same volume as the fenugreek extract. After 20 days, their embryos were pulled out and fixed at 10% formalin. After tissue processing, five micron sections were stained with Hematoxylin- eosin and evaluated for morphometric changes of testicular tissue. Data were evaluated with One-Way ANOVA test and Duncan post-hoc test.

Results: The mean diameter of seminiferous tubules and testis capsule thickness indicated no significant differences between fenugreek treatment and diabetic control groups (P> 0.05). Mean body weight of male embryos was significantly lower in fenugreek treatment group in comparison with the diabetic control group (P&le 0.05). The leydig, sertoli and spermatogonial cells number was significantly higher in fenugreek treatment group in compression with diabetic control group                      (P&le 0.05).

Conclusion: The present study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds may increase leydig, sertoli and spermatogonial cells number in testis of diabetic rats.

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Background & aim: Obesity as a global challenge is caused by positive energy balance. Increasing the intensity of physical activity is related to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and probably for this reason, it leads to the improvement of blood lipoproteins. Also, in recent years, special attention has been paid to the role of various plants in reducing blood fats and thus reducing obesity-related diseases. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the effect of 6 weeks of intense interval training with fenugreek supplement on lipid profile and body composition indices of overweight and obese women.

Methods: The present semi-experimental study was conducted in Birjand, Iran, in 2019. Forty-eight obese and overweight women with an average age of 29.79±7.8 years and a body mass index of 29.29±2.6 kg/m2 were purposefully selected and randomly divided into 4 groups of 12 including; The groups of exercise + placebo, exercise + supplement, supplement and placebo were placed. The exercise groups performed three sessions of intense interval training protocol (shuttle run) at maximum speed during 6 weeks and every week. Blood sampling was done 48 hours before and 48 hours after the training period and taking supplements. The collected data were analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk, covariance and post-hoc Scheffé statistical tests.

Results: Research findings indicated a significant decrease in TG, in the groups of exercise (p=0.001), supplement (p=0.003) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), significant decrease TC in exercise groups (p=0.001), supplement (p=0.001), exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), significant reduction of LDL in exercise groups (p=0.001) p), supplement (p=0.002) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), significant weight loss in the groups of exercise (p=0.0001), supplement (p=0.007) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), fat percentage in exercise groups (p=0.0001), supplement (p=0.0001) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001) and BMI in the group exercise (p=0.001), supplement (p=0.001) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001) and no significant change in HDL (p=0.18) and WHR (0.78) were observed.

Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it appeared that HIIT exercise along with the consumption of fenugreek supplement could be effective in preventing the occurrence of some diseases related to obesity.