Influence of Herbal plants in Managing Oxidative Stress in Athletes including Animal and Human Models and Mechanisms of Action

Free radicals play a key role in disease, aging, and reduced athletic performance, making strategies to limit their harmful effects essential. Herbal and natural antioxidants are a promising approach to protect against oxidative stress from intense physical activity.

This review focuses on medicinal plants and herbal supplements employed by athletes to combat oxidative stress during their sports activities. The search strategy utilized key terms such as "medicinal plants," "antioxidants," "oxidative stress," "rat”, “mice," and "athletes," referencing databases including Google Scholar, SID, Mag Iran, Scopus, and ISI.

The findings reveal that several medicinal plants, including Allium sativum, Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia, Vitis vinifera, Camellia sinensis, Zingiber officinale, Rubus fruticosus, Tamarindus indica or Ficus carica, Crocus sativus, and Panax ginseng are among the most effective herbal supplements for alleviating oxidative stress in athletes.

Integrating herbal remedies into athletes’ routines may enhance performance, speed recovery, and reduce oxidative damage, offering a safer alternative to synthetic drugs. Future clinical studies are needed to clarify mechanisms, standardize dosages, and develop evidence-based guidelines for their use in sports.