Alterations in Free Radical Scavenging System after Exhaustive Swimming in Ginsenoside-Rg1 treated Rat Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

PURPOSE: Ginsenoside-Rg1, one of the biologically active ingredients of ginseng occupies the major role in pharmacological research. The present study was attempted to explore effect of ginsenoside-Rg1 pretreatment on free radical scavenging system in the muscles of exhaustive exercised rats. METHODS: Healthy Sprague Dawley rats were evenly categorized into placebo (n=20) and ginsenoside-Rg1 (n=20) treated groups. Rg1, at the dose 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight was administered orally for 10-week. Ten rats from each group performed exhaustive swimming exercise and sacrificed immediately after exercise along with non-exercise rats. RESULTS: Exhaustive exercise significantly (p<0.05) increased the lipid peroxidation in the muscles of placebo rats as indicated by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. However, protective effect of ginsenoside-Rg1 against exhaustive exercise-induced lipid peroxidation was demonstrated by lower MDA levels in Rg1 pretreated rats. Furthermore, administration of Rg1 alone showed increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in non-exercise rats compared to placebo received non-exercise rats. On the other hand, exercise increased the muscle catalase activity in placebo group, when compared to non-exercise rats in the same group. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase activities were not significantly altered either by exercise or by Rg1 treatment in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Our results imply that pretreatment of ginsenoside-Rg1 could diminish the lipid peroxidation and maintain the free radical scavenging system against exhaustive exercise challenge. Further findings are considered to suggest the Rg1 as a herbal supplement before exhaustive performance to avoid the oxidative damage.