PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF A LIGNAN-ENRICHED EXTRACT OF FRUCTUS-SCHISANDRAEON PHYSICAL EXERCISE-INDUCED MUSCLE DAMAGE IN RATS

We have demonstrated that pretreatment with a lignan-enriched extract of Fructus schisandrae (FS) protected against physical exercise-induce d muscle damage in rats. The muscle protection afforded by FS pretreat ment was associated with a significant enhancement in hepatic antioxid ant status, as assessed by hepatic glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehy de (MDA) levels. Pretreating rats with alpha-tocopherol acetate, thoug h decreasing the MDA level in skeletal muscle, did not protect against exercise-induced muscle damage or improve hepatic antioxidant status in exercised rats. The results indicate that the protective effect of FS pretreatment on physical exercise-induced muscle damage may result from the enhancement of hepatic GSH status, thereby providing sufficie nt GSH for effective antioxidant protection of skeletal muscle during exercise.