PANAX NOTOGINSENG SUPPLEMENT IMPROVES ENDURANCE AND OXYGEN UPTAKE BUT NOT SKIN BLOOD FLOW

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Panax Notoginseng (PN ginseng), an herbal nutritional supplement on skin blood flow (SkBF), skin temperature (Ts) and cardiorespiratory response to exercise, and blood lipid profile in young adults. METHODS Thirty-four subjects, age 20–35 yr, were randomly assigned to an experimental (EXP, n=17) or control (CON, n=17) group. Using a double blind design, the EXP group were given 450 mg of PN ginseng capsule by mouth, and the CON group consumed 450 mg of starch capsule, 3 times a day for 30 days A maximal cycle ergometer test was used to obtain subject's peak VO2, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP); and a constant load (65% VO2peak) cycle test was used to obtain exercise time to exhaustion (Tmax), SkBF and Ts of the arm and thigh, HR, BP, MAP, and minute ventilation (VE). All participants gave written informed consent to serve as subjects. A 2 2 (group x test) ANOVA and t-test statistics were used to analyze the data. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. RESULTS show that the EXP improved Tmax (30.6 ± 12.8 min vs. 34.6 ± 12.7 min, p <0.05), and decreased (p <0.05) VO2 and VE measured at the 24th min constant load cycle test. However, PN ginseng supplement used in this study did not affect SkBF, Ts, peak VO2, HR, BP, MAP and blood lipids. The CON shows no significant change in all measurements between the pre-and post-test. Alkaline phosphotase level (143.2 ± 28.4 vs. 55.9 u/l ± 16.9 u/l) was lowered (p <0.05) after taking the supplement. CONCLUSION We conclude that Panax Notoginseng supplement prolongs exercise time to exhaustion and reduces VO2 and VE during constant load exercise; however, it does not significantly affect skin blood flow and skin temperature at rest and during exercise. (Supported by the Chuang Foundation)