Effects of Acute Supplementation of Panax ginseng on Endurance Performance in Healthy Adult Males of Kolkata, India

  • Ishita Bhattacharjee Sports and Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, Kolkata, INDIA.
  • Amit Bandyopadhyay Sports and Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, Kolkata, INDIA.
Keywords: Antioxidant property,, Endurance exercise,, Ergogenic aid,, Ginsengosides,, Oxidative stress

Abstract

Background and Aim: Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (PG), a worldwide renowned “adaptogen”, is believed to combat stress and augment endurance performance. Studies available regarding chronic supplementation of PG revealed contradictory findings. This study, for the first time, was conducted to examine the effects of acute supplementation of PG on endurance performance in healthy sedentary male university students of Kolkata, India. Methods: In this placebo controlled double blind study, effects of acute supplementation (1hr before endurance exercise) of 200 mg PG on endurance exercise was examined in healthy males (n=12), age ranging from 20 to 24 years. Endurance time, heart rate and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded. Blood samples were drawn just before supplementation and at the time of exhaustion for biochemical analysis of glucose, insulin, lactic acid, free fatty acid, lipid peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and total thiol. Data were analyzed by paired t-test, one-way ANOVA with post-hoc test. Results: Endurance time was significantly higher (p<0.001) in PG-trial (96.17±1.19 min) compared to placebo (PL) trial (92.42±1.24 min). Heart-rate and RPE at the time of exhaustion in PL-trial were significantly greater (p<0.05) than PG-trial. Post-exercise values of lactic acid, free fatty acid, lipid peroxidase were significantly greater (p<0.05) in placebo trial than PG trial while post-exercise values of glucose (78.96±1.67 mg/dl), insulin (3.13±0.56 μU/ml), catalase (78.02±1.38 μmol of H2O2/min/mg of protein), superoxide-dismutase (22.41±1.24 nmol/mg of protein) and total thiol (23.42±1.09 μmol/L) of PG-trial were significantly greater (p<0.05) than that of PL trial (75.33±1.5 mg/dl, 1.71±0.34 μU/ml, 75.84±0.92 μmol of H2O2/min/mg of protein, 19.36±1.45 nmol/mg of protein and 18.85±1.25 μmol/L respectively). Conclusion: Thus, acute supplementation of 200 mg PG has ergogenic effect in studied population.

Effects of Acute Supplementation of Panax ginseng on Endurance Performance in Healthy Adult Males of Kolkata, India
Published
2020-07-03
How to Cite
Bhattacharjee, I., & Bandyopadhyay, A. (2020). Effects of Acute Supplementation of Panax ginseng on Endurance Performance in Healthy Adult Males of Kolkata, India. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Physiology, 7(2), 63-68. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijcep.2020.7.2.16