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

J Voces,A.I Alvarez,A.C Perez,L Vila,J.G Prieto,I.D.G Duarte,A.C Cabral De Oliveira

doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2004001200012

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.

Highlights

Panax ginseng roots have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their important therapeutic qualities
HADH was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in soleus and red gastrocnemius muscles after the 100 mg/kg dose (20.1 ± 2.55, 15.6 ± 0.8 vs 12.4 ± 0.4 and 12.8 ± 0.6 μmol g muscle-1 min-1, respectively). Both activities were significantly decreased in practically all muscles studied in acutely exercised controls and in the group treated with 10 mg/kg ginseng. These activities were unchanged compared to the resting control group after acute exercise and administration of the 100-mg/kg dose of ginseng extract, with values of citrate synthase (CS) activity of 37.5 ± 4.7, 43.5 ± 5.1 μmol g muscle-1 min-1 and HADH
The purpose of this research was to study the effects of oxidative stress induced by exhaustive exercise on muscle mitochondrial function and antioxidant response after long-term administration of the standardized ginseng extract

Summary

Introduction

Panax ginseng roots have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their important therapeutic qualities. The pharmacological effects of ginseng have been demonstrated in the cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems [1]. The use of ginseng has been primarily empirical, but current systematic research has provided evidence for the antineoplastic and antioxidant activity of the plant [2,3]. Most pharmacological actions of ginseng are attributed to ginsenosides, which are able to act on a wide range of tissues. Rb1 and Rg1 are the most effective compounds [4,5]. The non-ginsenoside constituents of ginseng exert pharmacological effects [6]. Ginsenosides are amphiphilic in nature and have the ability to become intercalated in the membrane environment [1,7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion