Antifatigue effect of naringin on improving antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function and preventing muscle damage

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore effects of naringin (Nar) on antifatigue ability; the weight-loaded and non-loading swimming tests were performed. Compared with the control group, dietary supplementation of Nar significantly prolonged the weight-loaded swimming time to exhaustion of mice ( P < 0.01). Nar significantly reduced the serum lactic acid (LD) level ( P < 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity ( P < 0.001), while increased the serum non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) level ( P < 0.001). In addition, Nar significantly increased the liver glycogen and muscle glycogen contents ( P < 0.05) and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase ( PEPCK) ( P < 0.01) and glucokinase ( GCK) mRNA levels ( P < 0.001) in liver and gastrocnemius (GAS) muscle. Furthermore, Nar significantly improved the antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial function, and muscle mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation ( P < 0.05), and decreased inflammation and muscle damage–related gene expression ( P < 0.05). These findings suggested that Nar can improve antifatigue effect by enhancing antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function and preventing muscle damage.