Effects of Ginsenoside CK on Anti-fatigue and Oxidative Stress of Skeletal Muscle in Exhaustive Swimming Rats

PurposeTo study the effects of ginsenoside compound K (CK) on anti-fatigue and oxidative stress of skeletal muscle in exhaustive swimming rats.

MethodsSD rats were divided into quiet control group, exercise model group and low-, medium- and high dose ginsenoside CK groups (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg). The quiet control group and exercise model group were intragastric with equal volume of distilled water once a day for four weeks. Rats in the quiet control group did not participate in exercise, and rats in the other groups underwent swimming training on the day of drug administration. After the last administration, exhaustive swimming experiment was conducted, and the exhaustive swimming time of rats was recorded, and meanwhile, serum anti-fatigue indexes testosterone (TTS), corticosterone (CTC), lactic acid (LA) and urea nitrogen (BUN), muscle glycogen and liver glycogen reserve levels, pathological changes of skeletal muscle, skeletal muscle oxidative stress indexes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions were determined.

ResultsCompared with exercise model group, the exhaustive swimming time, serum TTS level, muscle glycogen and liver glycogen reserve levels, CAT, GSH-Px and SOD activities, and Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions in skeletal muscle of rats in low-, medium- and high dose ginsenoside CK groups were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the pathological changes of skeletal muscle were alleviated, and the levels of CTC, LA and BUN in serum and MDA in skeletal muscle decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

ConclusionGinsenoside CK can relieve fatigue in exhaustive swimming rats, which may be related to the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and the enhancement of antioxidant stress ability of skeletal muscle.