The extract G115 of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer enhance energy production in mammals

Abstract

A number of studies demonstrated that Ginseng increases endurance and vitality.The mechanism of action in these fields has not been clarified. We aimed to evaluate the ability of a standardized extract of Ginseng (G115) to improve energy production and metabolic activity in C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cell line and male C3H/He mice. In vitro, digested G115 was used at concentration of 10–50–100–200µg/ml for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Animals were treated with G115at 25mg/kg daily by oral administration. Gene expression of PGC-1a (gene involved in mitochondria biogenesis), AMPK and SIRT1 was evaluated by Real Time PCR. ATP production and O2 consumption were evaluated. The same parameters were evaluated in the gastrocnemius muscle collected from mice after two weeks of treatment. A concentration/effect relationship was observed in in vitro experiments. At higher concentration the effects declined to basal values. Gene expression of PGC-1a increased by 40% after 72 hours of incubation with 50 mcg/ml of G115. Similar behaviour was observed of AMPK and SIRT1 gene expression. ATP production was 21.6±2.3 nmol/mg proteins and 33.6±5.8 nmol/mg proteins in the control and treated cells respectively and O2 consumption was 11.3±1.5 mmol/min/mg proteins and 27.3±6.1 mmol/min/mg proteins in the control and treated cells respectively, after 72 hours incubation. The in vivo experiments confirmed the results observed in vitro. This study shows that the extract of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer G115 is able to increase mitochondrial function and this may explain the its ability to increase endurance and vitality.