New findings suggest that a combination of these natural extracts could pave the way for cost-effective supplements to combat muscle weakness and increase athletic performance.
Study: Synergistic effects of Korean mistletoe and apple peel extracts on muscle strength and endurance. Image credit: rsooll/Shutterstock.com
In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers investigated the role of mistletoe and apple peel extracts in improving muscle health and increasing endurance.
Their findings have implications for the development of cost-effective natural supplements for muscle growth, with applications in sports that address age-related muscle loss and muscle development in children.
background
Muscle strength and endurance are important components of physical fitness and are essential to maintaining quality of life. However, skeletal muscle mass decreases by 3-8% every 10 years after the age of 30, and this decrease accelerates after the age of 60.
Physical activity helps maintain muscle mass, but modern technology and automation have reduced activity levels.
Research shows that in 2016, fewer than 30% of adults worldwide failed to meet weekly physical activity guidelines, increasing their risk of developing chronic diseases. Insufficient physical activity may contribute to more deaths than obesity in Europe.
Besides physical activity, natural plant products such as curcumin (found in turmeric), catechins (found in tea), and resveratrol (found in red grapes) may also improve muscle health. Extracts from mistletoe, which are rich in bioactive compounds, have been shown to enhance muscle strength and endurance and are more effective than resveratrol.
However, mistletoe is difficult to harvest, expensive, and high doses can have negative effects. To address these issues, researchers are considering supplementing mistletoe extract with an extract from apple peel that is safe, nutritious, affordable, yet contains beneficial polyphenols. Masu.
About research
The researchers prepared the mistletoe extract by grinding and blending the fruit, stems, and leaves, then stirring for 16 hours, centrifuging the mixture, filtering it, and freeze-drying it. Apple peel extract was prepared by mixing dried apple peels and extracting using ethanol, followed by filtering and freeze-drying. The levels of polyphenols and flavonoids in the extracts were determined.
An animal experiment was conducted with male mice divided into six groups. Mice were treated with different doses of creatine, mistletoe, and apple peel extract for four weeks. Grip strength and treadmill endurance were measured after treatment.
Grip strength was assessed in five trials per mouse using a force gauge, and endurance tests were performed on a treadmill with increasing speed until the mouse fatigued.
The researchers then analyzed muscle tissue to understand the genetic mechanisms associated with muscle function and analyzed protein levels within the tissue.
Survey results
The researchers found that apple peel extraction technology is less developed compared to mistletoe, and that using 60% ethanol for 12 hours gave the best extraction results.
Analysis of the extract showed that the apple peel extract contained 1.08 mg/mL polyphenols and 0.65 mg/mL flavonoids. Combining apple peel and mistletoe extract resulted in higher polyphenol levels (2.21 mg/mL) and flavonoid levels (0.98 mg/mL).
Mice treated with extracts of apple peel, mistletoe, or their combination for four weeks showed no significant differences in caloric intake or body weight between the groups.
However, the combined extract group showed significant improvements in muscle strength compared to the control group. Endurance tests also showed a 233-258% increase in running time compared to the control group.
Further analysis showed that mice given the combination extract also showed an increase in myofiber size.
Combining the abstracts also results in a significant decrease in genes associated with protein breakdown, while an increase in genes associated with protein synthesis and muscle growth. Certain proteins associated with muscle growth were activated at higher rates in the combined group.
The combined extracts also significantly increased mitochondrial content and gene expression related to mitochondrial biogenesis. Mitochondrial fission-related genes decreased, but fusion-related genes increased.
In terms of effects on muscle fibers, mice treated with mistletoe and a combined extract showed an increase in fibers, which is important for endurance. Mice administered the mixed extract at half the concentration also showed improved muscle fibers compared to the control group.
conclusion
This study investigated whether combining mistletoe extract and apple peel extract could improve muscle strength and endurance more effectively than using each extract individually.
The researchers found that both extracts had high polyphenol content, but apple peel contained more flavonoids. The combination of mistletoe and apple peel extracts showed a synergistic effect, increasing muscle strength and endurance more than using either extract alone.
In the combined group, larger myofiber cross-sectional area and higher mitochondrial density were observed, which are associated with increased muscle protein synthesis and decreased protein degradation.
Phenolic acids in mistletoe and flavonoids in apple peel may have contributed to the observed effects. Compounds such as quercetin (found in apple peel) and chlorogenic acid (found in mistletoe) have been noted for strengthening muscle strength and reducing inflammation.
Although these findings are promising, longer study periods are needed to provide more evidence. Human trials are needed to determine the effectiveness, optimal dosage, and safety of these extracts for improving muscle function.
