Lab Anim Res.  2010 Sep;26(3):279-286.

Enhancement of Exercise Capacity by Black Ginseng Extract in Rats

• Jo GS
• Chai HY
• Ji HJ
• Kang MH
• Kang SJ
• Ji JG
• Kim DJ
• Lee BJ

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate an enhancing effect of black ginseng extract (BGE) on exercise capacity in an endurance exercising animal model. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 5 experimental groups including non-training control, training control, and 3 treated groups (BGE at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg). The animals were treated with BGE for 6 weeks and their exercise ability in the maximal running distance test was determined using a treadmill every week. The blood lactic acid (LA) level and the activity of citrate synthase (CS) in the muscle were also measured after the exercise. The levels of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) in the liver and muscle were determined using commercial assay kits. BGE treatments at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased the exercise capacity compared with the non-training control or training control groups (P<0.05). The level of blood LA was decreased but the activity of CS was increased by the treatment of BGE at the dose of 300 mg/kg compared with the training control group. The level of G-6-P in the liver was elevated by the treatment of BGE at the dose of 300 mg/kg, compared to the training group. As compared with non-training control group, the treatments of BGE increased the levels of glucose and G-6-P in the liver and soleus muscle of rats. These results indicate that BGE have a potential for promoting exercise capacity by increasing CS activity in the muscle and decreasing LA in the serum of rats. These results also suggested that BGE can be used as a candidate supplement of health food products for promoting endurance exercise capacity in human athletes.

Keyword

Black ginseng extract; ginseng saponins; exercise capacity; glucose; citrate synthase; lactic acid

MeSH Terms

Animals
Athletes
Citrate (si)-Synthase
Exercise
Glucose
Glucose-6-Phosphate
Food, Organic
Humans
Lactic Acid
Liver
Models, Animal
Muscle, Skeletal
Muscles
Panax
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Running
Citrate (si)-Synthase
Glucose
Glucose-6-Phosphate
Lactic Acid

Figure

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  Figure 1. Maximal running distance (MRD) in rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to rats　for 6 weeks. Exercise capacity was assessed as running time and distance to exhaustion on a treadmill. Data were represented as mean± SEM (n=7-10). aSignificantly different from non-training control group at P<0.05. bSignificantly different from training control group at P<0.05.

• 

  Figure 2. Citrate synthase (CS) activity in the soleus muscle of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. Citrate synthase in the soleus muscle was analyzed using an enzyme assay kit. Data were represented as mean± SEM (n=5). aSignificantly different from non-training control group at P<0.05. bSignificantly different from training control group at P<0.05.

• 

  Figure 3. Serum lactic acid (LA) level of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. Lactic acid in serum was analyzed using an automatic lactic acid analyzer. Data were represented as mean±SEM (n=5-6). aSignificantly different from non-training control group at P<0.05. bSignificantly different from training control group at P<0.05.

• 

  Figure 4. Serum glucose level of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. Glucose in blood was analyzed using a biochemical analyzer. Data were represented as mean±SEM (n=5-6). aSignificantly different from non-training control group at P<0.05.

• 

  Figure 5. Glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) level in the liver of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. G-6-P in liver was analyzed with an enzyme assay kit. Data were represented as mean±SEM (n=5-6). aSignificantly different from non-training control group at P<0.05. bSignificantly different from training control group at P<0.05.

• 

  Figure 6. Glucose-6-phosphate level in the soleus muscle of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. G-6-P in muscle was analyzed with an enzyme assay kit. Data were represented as mean±SEM (n=6). aSignificantly different from non-training control group at P<0.05.

• 

  Figure 7. Glucose level in the liver of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE). BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. Glucose concentrations in liver were analyzed using an glucose assay kit. Data were represented as mean±SEM (n=6).

• 

  Figure 8. Glucose level in the soleus muscle of rats treated with black ginseng extract (BGE) for 6 weeks. BGE at the oral doses of 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg was administered to animals for 6 weeks. Glucose concentrations in soleus muscle were analyzed using an glucose assay kit. Data were represented as aSignificantly different from non-training mean±SEM (n=6). control group at P<0.05.

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