American Ginseng Attenuates Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage via the Modulation of Lipid Peroxidation and Inflammatory Adaptation in Males

Ching-Hung Lin,Yi-An Lin,Shu-Li Chen,Mei-Chich Hsu,Cheng-Chen Hsu

doi:10.3390/nu14010078

Abstract

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is characterized by a reduction in functional performance, disruption of muscle structure, production of reactive oxygen species, and inflammatory reactions. Ginseng, along with its major bioactive component ginsenosides, has been widely employed in traditional Chinese medicine. The protective potential of American ginseng (AG) for eccentric EIMD remains unclear. Twelve physically active males (age: 22.4 ± 1.7 years; height: 175.1 ± 5.7 cm; weight: 70.8 ± 8.0 kg; peak oxygen consumption [peak] 54.1 ± 4.3 mL/kg/min) were administrated by AG extract (1.6 g/day) or placebo (P) for 28 days and subsequently challenged by downhill (DH) running (−10% gradient and 60% peak). The levels of circulating 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α (PGF2α), creatine kinase (CK), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-α, and the graphic pain rating scale (GPRS) were measured before and after supplementation and DH running. The results showed that the increases in plasma CK activity induced by DH running were eliminated by AG supplementation at 48 and 72 h after DH running. The level of plasma 8-iso-PGF2α was attenuated by AG supplementation immediately (p = 0.01 and r = 0.53), 2 h (p = 0.01 and r = 0.53) and 24 h (p = 0.028 and r = 0.45) after DH running compared with that by P supplementation. Moreover, our results showed an attenuation in the plasma IL-4 levels between AG and P supplementation before (p = 0.011 and r = 0.52) and 72 h (p = 0.028 and r = 0.45) following DH running. Our findings suggest that short-term supplementation with AG alleviates eccentric EIMD by decreasing lipid peroxidation and promoting inflammatory adaptation.

Highlights

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)are muscular adaptation processes that occur following exercise training
The results revealed that, skeletal muscle contributes to an important source of cytokine production, it displays significant differences in the levels of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β between muscle interstitial fluid and plasma
Our results showed that the resting concentration of plasma IL-4 was attenuated by AG supplementation before and 72 h after DH running

Summary

Introduction

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Are muscular adaptation processes that occur following exercise training. Prolonged and overloaded exercise training results in muscle fiber microdamage and increased oxidative stress. Muscle soreness and function loss are frequently experienced during the recovery phase after exercise training [1]. Muscle repair occurs by regulating inflammatory activity and activating muscle stem cells (satellite cells) for cell repair and regeneration within injured muscle fibers [2]. EIMD in professional athletes induces light or medium DMOS and affects muscle function within 2 to 3 days after exercise training. The non-trained population may experience both severe DOMS and loss of muscle function due to EIMD; a longer recovery phase is required in such cases for complete muscle repair [3,4]

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