title: Decreased eccentric exercise-induced macrophage infiltration in skeletal muscle after supplementation with a class of ginseng-derived steroids.
abstract: Dammarane steroids (DS) are a class of chemical compounds present in Panax ginseng. Here, we evaluated the effect of 10 weeks of DS supplementation on inflammatory modulation in the soleus muscle following eccentric exercise (EE)-induced muscle damage (downhill running). Eighty rats were randomized into 4 groups of DS supplementation (saline, 20, 60, 120 mg/kg body weight). Inflammatory markers were measured at rest and again 1 h after EE. At rest, NFκB signaling, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNAs, 3-nitrotyrosine, glutathione peroxidase, and GCS (glutamylcysteine synthetase) levels were significantly elevated in the skeletal muscle of DS-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, there were no detectable increases in the number of necrotic muscle fibers or CD68+ M1 macrophages. However, muscle strength, centronucleation, IL-10 mRNA expression, and the number of CD163+ M2 macrophages increased significantly over controls with DS treatment in rat soleus muscle. Under EE-challenged conditions, significant increases in muscle fiber necrosis, CD68+ M1 macrophage distribution, and 3-nitrotyrosine were absent in rats that received low and medium doses (20 and 60 mg/kg) of DS treatment, suggesting that DS possess anti-inflammatory action protecting against a muscle-damaging challenge. However, this protective activity was diminished when a high dose of DS (120 mg/kg) was administered, suggesting that DS possess hormetic properties. In conclusion, our study provides new evidence suggesting that DS is an ergogenic component of ginseng that potentiate inflammation at baseline but that produce anti-inflammatory effects on skeletal muscle following muscle-damaging exercise. Furthermore, high doses should be avoided in formulating ginseng-based products.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Ilan University, Yilan County, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Szu-Hsien
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Health and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Health and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shin-Da
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ray-Yau
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chung-Lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012420:Running; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000097669:Dammaranes
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010840:Phytosterols; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097669:Dammaranes