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Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and Muscle soreness: evidence and sources
inferred from ergogenic action
For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants, especially alongside prescribed medication, during pregnancy, or for a serious condition.
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Adaptogens are synthetic compounds (bromantane, levamisole, aphobazole, bemethyl, etc.) or plant extracts that have the ability to enhance the body's stability against physical loads without increasing oxygen consumption. Extracts from Panax ginseng , Eleutherococcus senticosus , Rhaponticum carthamoides , Rhodiola rosea , and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and, in particular, plant adaptogens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of plant adaptogens in the past and now, as well as to outline the prospects of their future applications. The use of natural adaptogens by humans has a rich history-they are used in recovery from illness, physical weakness, memory impairment, and other conditions. About 50 years ago, plant adaptogens were first used in professional sports due to their high potential to increase the body's resistance to stress and to improve physical endurance. Although now many people take plant adaptogens, the clinical trials on human are limited. The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.
The dried roots and rhizomes of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Araliacaea) plant are used in various preparations, primarily for its "adaptogenic" properties. An adaptogen supports health and prevents disease in both sick and healthy individuals through nonspecific effects, which neutralize various environmental and physical stressors while remaining relatively safe and free of side effects. The term "adaptogen," which has not been well defined scientifically, undermines the need for increased inquiry and research into the many promising effects of this herb. The primary clinical applications, pharmacology, evidence of efficacy, contraindications, drug interactions, and current clinical and scientific research are also reported.
This comprehensive review focuses on Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES), examining the phytochemical composition, traditional medicinal roles, ecological traits, and pharmacological effects. Native to Northeast Asia, ES is used in traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicine. The rhizomes and bark are utilized medicinally and valued for their adaptogenic properties that enhance stress resistance, boost mental and physical endurance, and exhibit immunostimulatory effects that strengthen the immune system. Its pharmacological potential stems from a variety of bioactive compounds, including eleutherosides, lignans, saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, which contribute to health benefits such as neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antioxidative activities. Neuroprotective properties may aid in the management of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, while antidiabetic effects support glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity. With increasing demands and conservation concerns, sustainable cultivation practices are essential, as ES is endangered in some areas. Plant biotechnology techniques offer solutions to enhance secondary metabolite yields while ensuring genetic stability and minimizing environmental impacts. ES is a promising natural resource for various industries because of its extensive benefits. Still, its conservation and sustainable production are critical and require ongoing research and innovative cultivation strategies.
3 sources supporting Siberian Ginseng for Muscle soreness. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's physical performance / ergogenic action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
The use of nutritional ergogenic aids containing Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES), a plant which is also known as ciwujia or Siberian ginseng, is relatively common among endurance athletes. Eleutherococcus senticosus has been suggested to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CF) and fat metabolism (FAM) and, therefore, endurance performance (EP). This article reviews the studies that evaluated the effects of ES during endurance exercise, three of which suggest that ES substantially improves CF, FAM, and EP. However, each of these reports contains severe methodological flaws, which seriously threaten their internal validity, thereby rendering hazardous the generalization of the results. On the other hand, 5 studies that used rigorous research protocols show no benefit of ES on CF, FAM, and EP. It is therefore concluded that ES supplementation (up to 1000 to 1200 mg/d for 1 to 6 wk) offers no advantage during exercise ranging in duration from 6 to 120 min.
Purpose In vivo studies have demonstrated the ergogenic benefits of eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) supplementation. ES has been observed to enhance endurance capacity, improve cardiovascular function, and alter metabolic functions (e.g., increased fat utilization); however, the exact mechanisms involved remain unknown. We aimed to determine whether ES could effectively induce fat loss and improve muscle metabolic profiles through increases in lipolysis- and lipid metabolism-associated protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, respectively, to uncover the direct effects of ES on adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells. Methods Different doses of ES extracts (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL) were added to cells (0.2 ES, 0.5 ES, and 1.0 ES, respectively) for 72 h and compared to the vehicle control (control). Results The intracellular triacylglycerol (TG) content significantly decreased (p Conclusion These findings suggest that ES extracts decreased TG content, presumably by increasing lipase in adipocytes and metabolism-associated protein expression as well as mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle cells. These effects may corroborate previous in vivo findings regarding the ergogenic effects of ES supplementation.