Effect of ginseng intake on muscle damage induced by exercise in healthy adults

Abstract

One of the most popular herbal supplements in the world is ginseng. Several studies have evaluated the capacity of ginseng as a protective element in the physiological response to exercise. The result produced by the exercise causes an increase in cellular biomarkers of damage in the skeletal muscle, mainly in the pro-inflammatory types. The different types of ginseng are composed of ginsenosides, which are active ingredients that act on the central nervous system and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as effects on cortisol modulation. The use of ginseng as a nutritional supplement can help muscle regeneration and renewal. The objective of this review is to enrich the knowledge regarding the consumption of ginseng for a specific situation, such as exercise, which would cause an improvement in the tolerance to chronic load stimuli in sport, thus helping the subjects to recover between training sessions. Due to these benefits, it could also be an ideal food supplement for regenerative processes in muscle injuries in which inflammatory markers increase significantly. This review aims to summarise that biological factors can be attenuated after exercise due to the consumption of ginseng in healthy subjects, accelerating and improving muscle regeneration and, therefore, improving the ability to adapt to the stimuli generated by said exercise.