COMBINED EFFECT OF EXERCISE AND INGESTION OF UNRIPE DENNETTIA TRIPETALA (PEPPER FRUIT) ON LUNG FUNCTION OF MALE SUBJECTS WITH DIFFERENT BODY MASS INDEXES

ABSTRACT

Generally, exercise has been established to have a beneficial effect on human health and fitness. There are a lot of reports on the medicinal use of Dennettia tripetala (pepper fruit). However, there is still scarcity of studies on its effect on the airway after exercise. This study is aimed at evaluating the combined effect of exercise and fresh unripe Dennettia tripetala in lung function of male subjects with different body mass index. Forty – five (45) male young adults with different body mass index (age 18 – 30) were recruited for this study. Each subject was allowed to exercise for 20 minutes using bicycle ergometer and their lung function were recorded. One hour after the exercise each of the subject were asked to consume 2 bulb of unripe Dennettia tripetala equal 2g and their lung function were recorded after an hour. In order to ascertain the combine effect, each subject was asked to eat Dennettia tripetala while riding bicycle ergometer for another 20 minutes and their lung function were recorded immediately. All measurement was done using digital spirometer. The results showed that there was a significant increase of FVC in obese subjects of exercise and Dennettia tripetala combined when compared with the control (p<0.05). The results also showed a significant increase of FEV1 in all subjects of exercise and Dennettia tripetala combined when compared with control (p<0.05). Also the results showed a significant increase of PEF in both overweight and obese subjects when compared with exercise and Dennettia tripetala (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study has shown that exercise and ingestion of fresh unripe Dennettia tripetala (pepper fruit), and combined effect of exercise and pepper fruit improved respiratory functions and may be beneficial value to subjects with airway abnormalities.