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Brain malfunction is common in diabetic patients. On the other hand, a growing body of research points to the beneficial effect of medicinal plants and exercise training on insulin sensitivity and brain function. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of co-administration of swimming training and Plantago psyllium (mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 5%) on learning and memory impairment and glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic rats. For this purpose, 10 healthy and 40 rats with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to five groups: healthy sedentary control group (Con), sedentary diabetic group (D), diabetic group subjected to swimming training (D + Tr), diabetic group receiving P. psyllium (D + Ps), and diabetic group subjected to swimming training and receiving P. psyllium (D + Ps + Tr). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide (120 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) separately with 15 min intervals. Experimental groups were treated with swimming training and P. psyllium independently and simultaneously for 12 weeks. Lipid profile and food intake were measured and also, glucose tolerance was evaluated by glucose area under the curve (AUCg) using an oral glucose tolerance test. Passive avoidance learning (PAL) and memory were evaluated by shuttle box test and cognitive memory was assessed by novel object recognition (NOR) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests. Diabetic rats exhibited a significant increase in food intake, lipid profile, and AUCg compared to healthy rats. Step-through latency in the PAL acquisition trial (STL-a) and retention test (STL-r) were significantly lower in diabetic rats than in the control group. In the diabetic group without treatment, time spent in the dark compartment increased compared to the control group in the shuttle box test. Discrimination index and distance traveled reduced in diabetic rats. On the other hand, swimming training and P. psyllium alleviated food intake, lipid profile, and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Also, the STL-a, STL-r, discrimination index, and distance travelled in the D + Ps + Tr group were significantly more than the diabetic group. Results showed that 12 weeks of swimming training and receiving P. psyllium improved memory deficit in streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats possibly through hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects. These results suggest that the administration of swimming training and P. psyllium simultaneously might be an effective intervention for the treatment of diabetes-induced behavioral deficits.

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Many studies have assessed the effect of exercise training and the use of various herbs on the cognitive deficit in type-2 diabetic patients. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of a combination of two traditional plants, Portulaca oleracea and Plantago psyllium, and swimming training on cognitive decline in type 2 diabetic rats. Fifty male Wistar rats (weight: 275±25g) were selected. Type-2 diabetes was induced by a single IP injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Then, the subjects were randomly assigned to the following groups: control-healthy (Con), control-diabetic (D), diabetic-training (D+Tr), diabetic-P.oleracea plus P. psyllium (D+PO+PP), and diabetic- P.oleracea plus P. psyllium plus training groups (D+PO+PP+Tr). Training groups were subjected to submaximal swimming training for 12 weeks (5 days per week). Learning abilities and memory retention were evaluated using shuttle box, elevated plus maze, open field, and novel recognition object tests. Step-through latency period in retention phase in the shuttle box test and discrimination index in the novel recognition object test increased in response to the simultaneous use of two herbal medicines. Swimming training had no effect on learning and memory indices in diabetic rats, but co-administration of P. oleracea and P. psyllium with swimming training for 12 weeks ameliorated passive avoidance memory, general locomotor activity, and exploratory behavior in diabetic rats. These results indicated that co-administration of P. oleracea and P. psyllium with submaximal swimming training for 12 weeks can reverse the cognitive impairment present in type-2 diabetic rats.