Ginseng administration protects skeletal muscle from oxidative stress induced by acute exercise in rats

Abstract

Enzymatic activity was analyzed in the soleus, gastrocnemius (red and white) and plantaris muscles of acutely exercised rats after long-term administration of Panax ginseng extract in order to evaluate the protective role of ginseng against skeletal muscle oxidation. Ginseng extract (3, 10, 100, or 500 mg/kg) was administered orally for three months to male Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 50 g before exercise and to non-exercised rats (N = 8/group). The results showed a membrane stabilizing capacity of the extract since mitochondrial function measured on the basis of citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities was reduced, on average, by 20% (P < 0.05) after exercise but the activities remained unchanged in animals treated with a ginseng dose of 100 mg/kg. Glutathione status did not show significant changes after exercise or treatment. Lipid peroxidation, measured on the basis of malondialdehyde levels, was significantly higher in all muscles after exercise, and again was reduced by about 74% (P < 0.05) by the use of ginseng extract. The administration of ginseng extract was able to protect muscle from exercise-induced oxidative stress irrespective of fiber type. Correspondence

Effects of Red Ginseng Intake on Muscle Injury Due to Eccentric Exercise

“…Mechanical stress caused by eccentric exercise disturbs the ultrastructural integrity of skeletal muscle fibers (12), resulting in an acute inflammatory response where neutrophils and macrophages infiltrate skeletal muscle cells, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals. It has been shown that ginseng intake lowers inflammatory markers (6) and protects against inflammation after eccentric exercise (13), as such, ginseng may prevent muscle damage by reducing inflammation. Furthermore, the increase of ROS in exercise has been implicated in muscle fatigue and oxidative stress.…”

“…Literature suggests that dietary antioxidants may prevent muscle damage by scavenging ROS produced during exercise (15,16). It is possible that ginseng and dietary antioxidants might have similar function; Korean red ginseng contains the major antioxidant enzyme, Rb2 (17), which scavenges hydroxyl radicals and protects unsaturated fatty acids from oxidation (13).…”

Polysaccharides from Polygonatum odoratum strengthen antioxidant defense system and attenuate lipid peroxidation against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress in mice

“…Exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress may result in muscle fatigue, muscle damage, and a reduction in physical performance [8]. Several studies have indicated that dietary antioxidants may prevent exercise-induced oxidative damage, as they are able to detoxify a number of peroxides directly through scavenging ROS that are generated during exercise or indirectly as modulators of intracellular pro-and anti-oxidant enzymes [9].…”

Effects of Panax ginseng on Stress

“…인삼의 페놀성 성분들은 노화억제 에 유효성분으로 10여종 이상의 항산화성, 페놀성 물질들이 밝혀졌고, 이들은 고혈압억제, 항암, 항산화, 미백활성 등의 생리활성으로도 알려져 있으며 [3][4][5] , 또한 다양한 스트레스에 대 해 비특이적으로 육체적, 정신적 안정 상태를 유지시킨다 6) . 고려 인삼의 항 스트레스 효과는 격한 운동 [7][8] , 수영 9) , 또는 저온에서 수영 [10][11] , 고정화 . .…”