Red grape leaf extract improves endurance capacity by facilitating fatty acid utilization in skeletal muscle in mice

Abstract

Improving endurance capacity leads to increased athletic performance and active lifestyles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the intake of red grape leaf extract (RGLE), used as a traditional herbal medicine in the Mediterranean area, on endurance capacity in mice. Male BALB/c mice were divided into three experimental groups with similar swimming times and body weights; control group, 0.2% (w/w) and 0.5% RGLE group. Swimming times were measured for evaluation of endurance capacity once a week during the 10-week experimental period. Blood and tissues were collected from anesthetized mice immediately after 30 min of swimming exercise, and analyzed blood component and fatty acid oxidation enzyme activity, and gene expression in soleus muscle and mesenteric adipose tissue. Endurance capacity was improved by RGLE in a dose-related manner, and was significantly longer in the 0.5% RGLE group than in the control group at week 10. Plasma lactate levels after exercise in the 0.5% RGLE group were significantly lower than that in the control group. RGLE induced the upregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase mRNA in mesenteric adipose tissue, increased the plasma free fatty acid concentration after exercise, and enhanced fatty acid oxidation enzyme activity in the soleus muscle. Furthermore, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (Pgc1α) and its downstream target genes were also significantly upregulated in the soleus muscle in the 0.5% RGLE group. Intake of RGLE upregulated Pgc1α expression and facilitated fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle, and these effects contributed, in part, to improve endurance capacity.

Kinetics of Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity Using Vitis vinifera Leaf Extracts

“…Numerous investigations reported medical applications of RVLE [17], for example, treatments for chronic venous insufficiency over many decades [16, 18]. Besides, it could also improve endurance capacity by facilitating fatty acid utilization in skeletal muscle in mice [19]. …”

Upregulation of skeletal muscle PGC-1α through the elevation of cyclic AMP levels by Cyanidin-3-glucoside enhances exercise performance

“…Animal and in vitro model studies have shown that Cy3G has anti-obesity13 and anti-diabetic effects1314. Additionally, the supplementation of red grape leaf extract containing Cy3G has been reported to enhance exercise capacity by activating fatty acid oxidation15. Furthermore, in human clinical trial done by Mazza G et al 16.…”

<i>Sasa borealis</i> Extract Efficiently Enhanced Swimming Capacity by Improving Energy Metabolism and the Antioxidant Defense System in Mice

“…Green tea extract and red grape leaf extract, which contain a lot of phenolic compounds, were beneficial for improving exercise capacity (3,36). Extracts from plant leaves contain abundant amounts of phenolic compounds, which act as antioxidants, and may have beneficial effects on exercise performance (3,10,12).…”

“…Exogenous antioxidants may prevent exercise-induced oxidative damages, since they are able to detoxify certain free radicals and peroxides with enhancing endogenous antioxidants (12)(13)(14). In addition, antioxidants from plant-leaf may improve physiological conditions by promoting and interacting with endogenous antioxidants (3,10,12). Thus, antioxidants can be key elements to combat and reduce the degree of exhaustion.…”

“…During exercise, skeletal muscle utilizes glucose, glycogen, and fatty acid as energy sources, but the quantity of each energy source is limited in skeletal muscle. Numerous studies have reported that the appropriate selection of exogenous supplements may favorably improve exercise capacity (3) by sparing glycogen and increasing fatty acid utilization (4,5), facilitating fatty acid oxidation (3,4,6) and enhancing mitochondrial functions (3,6).…”