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Ginsenoside Rg1, a natural anabolic from the ginseng plant
Ginsenoside Rg1 is probably the primary bioactive substance in Chinese and Korean ginseng. If you give this substance to mice, their muscles will become more compact and stronger. Ginsenoside Rg1 is therefore a natural anabolic, write South Korean molecular biologists, affiliated with the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, in the Journal of Ginseng Research.
Study
For 5 weeks, the researchers gave mice ginsenoside Rg1 through their drinking water. The researchers are not very clear about the dose they administered to their test animals, but it could have been quite a lot. In human studies, however, subjects receive a few milligrams of ginsenoside Rg1 per day.
You can read more about those studies here and here.
Results
The mice that had received ginsenoside Rg1 had a little more brown fat and more muscle than the mice in the control group, but those differences were not statistically significant.
When the researchers determined the strength with the mice's claws could develop, they discovered that ginsenoside Rg1 made the test animals stronger.
The researchers found more muscle fibers in the muscle tissues of the mice in the experimental group than in the muscle tissues of the animals in the control group.
In the muscles of the mice in the experimental group there were significantly more slow MHCI muscle fibers [the muscle fiber type that endurance athletes appeal to] but also more fast muscle fibers [the fiber type that is important for strength athletes, sprinters and combat athletes] of the MHCIIb and MHCIIx type.
Mechanism
Ginsenoside Rg1 switched on anabolic signal molecules, and in particular S6K.
Conclusion
"[Ginsenoside] Rg1 might be a valuable nutritional supplement for the enhancement of muscle function and the protection of muscles from atrophy", summarize the Koreans.
Almost forgot to tell
The research is not funded by a manufacturer of ginseng extracts, but by the South Korean government.
Source:
J Ginseng Res. 2019 Jul;43(3):475-81.
More:
Ginseng steroid Rg1 rejuvenates athletes' muscles 13.08.2018
The ginseng steroid Rg1 makes humans fitter 11.08.2018
Ginsenoside-Rg1 in Panax ginseng protects athletes' muscles 28.01.2013
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